Politics & Government

Ways to Trim Your Waste-Line (Get It?) This Holiday Season

How you can help save the earth

Lots of shopping, wrapping and parties during the holiday season means lots more trash at the curbs.

About 25 percent more, the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District says -- mostly wrapping paper, ribbons, party decorations and mail-order catalogs.

Overall, Americans generate about 1 million tons of trash per week between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

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Jennifer Milbrandt, Strongsville's coordinator of natural resources, passes along the Solid Waste District's ideas to reduce trash this holiday season:

Christmas trees -- Each year, 10 million Christmas trees end up in the landfill. Locally, communities offer programs to turn your tree to mulch or wood chips. See a list of options at www.cuyahogaswd.org. (Strongsville will recycle trees left at the curb on regular trash days).

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Christmas cards -- Send your cards to St. Jude's Ranch, a nonprofit home for youths that collects old holiday cards for reuse. Children at St. Jude's earn money by creating new holiday cards from the old.  Visit www.stjudesranch.org/shop/recycled-card-program/.

Gift wrap and gift boxes -- Gift wrap, holiday cards and boxes that are 100 percent paper can be recycled. Foil, plastic coating and glitter cannot be put into recycle bins.

Pass it on! -- Donate unwanted clothes, toys, and other unwanted items to non-profit organizations that accept donations.  Check out our searchable database of local donation opportunities at  www.cuyahogaswd.org/en-US/pass-it-on.aspx.

BYOBag - Take a cloth tote bag when shopping for the holidays to avoid bringing home an armload of plastic or paper sacks.

Cell phones -- If you're getting a hot, new phone for the holidays, recycle the old one at your point of purchase.  AT&T, Best Buy, Verizon, Radio Shack, Staples and other retailers offer recycling services in store.

Energy-saving holiday lights -- Decorate your house with LED lights that use 90 percent less energy than conventional holiday lights.  Recycle the old lights through www.holidayleds.com.

Styrofoam -- Recycle formed Styrofoam pieces at Buckeye Industries, 33851 Curtis Boulevard, Suite 207 in Eastlake.  Buckeye Industries will take formed #6 EPS from individuals as well as businesses as long as its not contaminated with food or chemicals.  For more information, call (440) 942-1605.

Batteries -- Alkaline batteries are non-hazardous and should be disposed in the regular trash.  Instead, purchase and use rechargeable batteries whenever possible.  Places to recycle rechargeable batteries are everywhere.  Find a list at www.rbrc.com.

Food -- Rather than throwing the excess food away, donate leftovers to a local food pantry or organization that feeds the needy.  See www.clevelandfoodbank.org.

A complete list of tips for reducing holiday waste is available at www.cuyahogaswd.org/en-US/greening-holidays.aspx.


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