Eco-Friendly Tips for Managing Holiday Waste in Wisconsin
As the holiday season concludes, many households in Wisconsin are left with an abundance of waste from gift-giving and festivities. A common question arises: What items can be recycled?
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provides guidance on recycling holiday waste, including cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, and Christmas trees, to promote a more sustainable cleanup process.
“From La Crosse to Milwaukee to the Northwoods, you can recycle containers made of steel, aluminum, glass, plastics No. 1 and No. 2, as well as cardboard, newspaper, magazines, office paper, and other papers,” stated Jennifer Semrau, the DNR’s Recycling and Waste Diversion Program Coordinator, during a recent press conference.
Local recycling regulations may vary, so Semrau advises residents to verify their community’s specific recycling guidelines and how materials should be prepared for recycling.
When it comes to holiday decorations, not everything can be recycled. Wrapping paper without glitter, ribbons, or tinsel can be recycled, while tissue paper should be discarded. “A common reason (recycling) programs will say no wrapping paper at all is because people tend to include all the bows and ribbons with their wrapping paper when they’re disposing of it, or they take their paper and crinkle it up,” Semrau noted.
For those with Christmas trees, it’s important to check local schedules for curbside pickup or drop-off sites, ensuring all decorations and lights are removed beforehand. Semrau cautions against placing burnt-out holiday lights in recycling bins: “Holiday lights are called tanglers, meaning they can wrap around recycling equipment … causing operations to come to a grinding halt.”
Additionally, Semrau stresses the importance of disposing of old batteries and electronics at designated drop-off sites rather than in household trash. (Find a drop-off location here.) “Several very damaging fires, likely caused by batteries, have occurred in collection trucks and facilities around Wisconsin,” she warned. “Operators report that smaller fires are often a weekly occurrence.”
Beyond typical holiday waste, the DNR also highlights the significance of reducing food waste. Erik Flesch, an organics waste management specialist with the DNR, points out that food waste constitutes the majority of landfill content in Wisconsin, with nearly 300 pounds per person annually. The agency aims to cut landfilled food waste by 50% this year.
“While we celebrate the season with an abundance of the people and the things we hold dear, it’s important to think about food — not just how much we have, but also how much we waste,” Flesch mentioned. To minimize food waste, he suggests meal planning, taking stock of pantry items before shopping, and creatively using leftovers or sharing them with guests. If disposal is necessary, consider composting at home or using community compost sites (learn more about composting).
