Holiday Recycling Answers

December 26, 2003

OK, people, today's the day, typically the biggest day of the year for the trash can, when it salivates at the remains of the holidays, yawns its big mouth open and says "Feed me!" But this year I invite you to join me in bucking the trend and making today "the Day the Trash Can Went Without" (soon to be a post-holiday TV special). We'll keep the trash can lid closed and fill only the recycling bin, or, better yet, the reuse pile. Who's with me? All we'll need are the answers to a few frequently asked holiday recycling questions and we're off:

Are shiny corrugated cardboard boxes recyclable? Yes, recycling isn't just for brown boxes. If you have a paper box that has three layers of paper (one wavy layer in between two flat layers) it's recyclable with corrugated cardboard, no matter how thin the layers. If it's still intact, save it to package the next present you give.

Gift boxes? Shirt boxes, shoe boxes, and the paper backing that comes with many toys are considered "paperboard" and not cardboard because they are only one layer thick. . Please remove all non-paper materials (cellophane windows, plastic ties, etc.) and deposit the boxes in the paperboard bin at your local drop-off center.

Big paper shopping bags? These are great to reuse for future shopping trips. If it's ripped, the paper can be reused as wrapping paper. But if neither of those uses is an option, paper shopping bags of any color (not just brown and including glossy bags) are recyclable with your corrugated cardboard. Please remove any non-paper handles.

Plastic shopping bags? Hopefully, you don't have much of these because you've reused canvas bags, but if you do have ripped bags that can't be reused, they can be recycled if they're marked with a #2 or #4 inside the chasing arrows recycling symbol, and if they are clean, dry and empty (please check for receipts). They are not accepted at the curb, but can be recycled at the CHaRM (Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials). Call 303-444-6634 for hours and directions or visit www.ecocycle.org.

Dead holiday light strings (cords)? Yes, recyclable. Surprised? So was I. I just learned this one. Electrical cords for holiday lights and dead extension cords can be recycled-if the light bulbs have been removed-with scrap metal at the drop-off centers in Longmont and Boulder . Please wrap the cord up and tie it with the loose end so the strings don't get caught in the recycling machinery. The light bulbs themselves are not recyclable.

And here's the answer to the #1 most frequently asked holiday question: Is big block Styrofoam recyclable? Typically, our answer to this question is "no" and dedicated recyclers go guiltily slinking off to their trash can with the big Styrofoam pieces that come with new TV's, VCRs, computers, etc. But because you've been very good this year (we've been watching you), Eco-Cycle and the City of Boulder are hosting a ONE WEEK only collection of BLOCK Styrofoam with a #6 on it at the CHaRM. From January 12 th -17 th , we'll take clean, dry, tape-free, white, #6 block Styrofoam (no other kind). It's accepted at the CHaRM only (not at the regular drop-off center), and only during those days. Don't get used to it, though. This program is just a pilot project to test the viability of recycling Styrofoam. At this time it's very difficult and expensive to recycle. The collection event will NOT be accepting Styrofoam peanuts.

You can learn the answers to many more questions, including where to recycle holiday trees, cards, wrapping paper, used batteries, Styrofoam peanuts, clothing, and much more at www.ecocycle.org . Or give us a call at 303-444-6634.

Good job. I think our new TV special is ready for prime time. Now who wants to play the part of the empty trash can?