The holidays are over, and it’s time to toss out all trimmings and trappings and wrapping paper, tissue paper and cardboard scattered around the house.
But what goes in recycling? What is trash? What goes back to a depot? These may be just a few questions people have when it comes to recycling after the holidays.
“We do have definite peaks and valleys in our collection system. Typically in the holidays, the first week of January is probably one of the busiest weeks in terms of recycle collection,” says City of New Westminster solid waste and recycling branch supervisor Kristian Davis.
One thing to keep in mind when preparing recycling after the holidays is that not everything can be recycled, according to Davis.
“I hate to say it, but if in doubt, throw it out. People want to recycle everything these days, but when it all boils down to it, not everything could be or should be recycled,” he adds.
The Record caught up with Davis to find out just what to do with all that Christmas stuff.
Food scraps: Organics bin
“We want your turkeys,” says Davis. “When there’s nothing left to eat, we’ll take the leftovers. We’re happy with that and it’s great.”
Glass: City depot
Not all glass is created equal, says Davis.
Glass ornaments, for example, go in the garbage, but glass packaging (think jars) can be returned to the city’s recycling facility, he says.
“Residents have been pretty diligent about keeping glass out of their recycling bins,” he adds.
“What we do find in there, oddly enough, are refundable bottles like wine bottles and beer bottles, which shouldn’t be in the recycling cart regardless.”
If you’ve got a pile of wine bottles ready for recycling, take it to a Return-It Depot or leave it out for someone looking to collect the deposit, Davis says.
“If you are going to leave out bottles and cans for people who come by looking for the deposits, it’s best if you just leave them in a separate container off to the side or a box that’s easier for them to hall away. Makes their job a lot easier.”
Wrapping paper: Recycling bin (maybe)
There are several kinds of wrapping paper and they can’t all be recycled, according to Davis.
Unless it’s the plain paper kind, it belongs in the trash, he says.
“If it’s the cellophane plastic wrap that’s similar to a plastic bag, it’s the same properties basically, and it’s not accepted in the curbside carts,” he explains.
Christmas trees: Garbage (fake)
If you’ve got yourself a fake tree, keep it. For as long as possible, says Davis. If it’s broken or you’re finished with it, it goes into the trash. If it won’t fit inside your curbside bin, you can have the city take it away for a $4 fee, Davis says.
“You can purchase garbage tags for $4 a piece at any community centre or at city hall and leave them (large items) out alongside your garbage carts on garbage days, and we’ll pick them up along with your bin,” he adds.
Christmas lights: City depot
Christmas lights can be recycled at the city’s facility. This goes for those large inflatable lawn decorations, too.
“Anything that’s sort of metal, anything that’s scrap metal and it’s valuable – we’ll accept it at the city’s recycling depot,” Davis says.
Styrofoam: Metro Vancouver depot
Styrofoam is very special, says Davis.
The packing material, found in most items boxes these days, can only be returned to Metro Vancouver facilities – and they must be clean.
“The problem with Styrofoam is it has to be handled separately and very clean apart from other materials, so once it’s contaminated with anything you find in your recycling bin it reduces the recyclability of it,” he says.
(Styrofoam packaging, the kind used for take-out containers, can be returned to the city’s recycling depot, but it must be cleaned before it is dropped off.)
WHERE ARE THE DEPOTS?
NEW WESTMINSTER RECYCLING DEPOT
Located at East Sixth Avenue and McBride Boulevard next to the Canada Games Pool. Available for use by all New Westminster residents. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed Monday and Tuesday). Info call: 604-968-4208.
BOTTLE DEPOTS
- 916 Eighth St. open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
- Unit 21-79 Braid St. open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
- Unit A-409 Boyd St. open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
REGIONAL RECYCLING BURNABY
2961 Norland Ave., Burnaby. Open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Be sure to check out tinyurl.com/BBYRegionalRecycling before your visit to confirm what is accepted at the facility.)
