Are you ready for Christmas? Unlike many people who may ask you
this question, I
’m not referring to your shopping list or mailing out cards. I’m
talking about recycling.
Are you ready for Christmas? Unlike many people who may ask you this question, I’m not referring to your shopping list or mailing out cards. I’m talking about recycling.
Yes, that’s right, Christmas morning is the highlight of the recycling year. If recycling were a sport, Christmas morning is the Super Bowl or World Cup or seventh Game of the World Series. Like these big sporting events, you have to be fully prepared for the Christmas morning kickoff. You need to wake up with your game plan fully developed, with your equipment in place, and your body ready to spring into action.
Am I taking this a bit too serious? Probably, but it really does pay to prepare for Christmas morning.
Here are a few tips:
• Remember that most wrapping paper is mixed paper and should be recycled. You may want to have a few paper bags available to shove the wrapping paper into. You can then just deposit the entire bag into your recycling bin.
• Foam packaging and foam peanuts are recyclable. Big foam pieces can be recycled as is. The peanuts should be sealed in a plastic bag.
• Most gift boxes are mixed paper while some are cardboard. If you can see some air space and that little “honeycomb” filler between layers of the box, it’s considered cardboard. If you can’t, it’s mixed paper. Regardless, they’re recyclable.
• Bows and ribbon can be reused next year. Small pieces of ribbon should not be recycled but should be discarded as garbage.
Christmas tree recycling reminder: When you are ready to recycle your tree this year, please follow these instructions:
• Remove all lights, tinsel, and decorations – flocking is OK.
• Cut the tree into sections three feet or less.
• Set the tree out on your yard trimming collection day only. Trees will not be collected on other days.
• And for those of you with regular garbage pickup Thursday, it will be on Friday
• New Year’s Day garbage will be picked up on Friday.
There is no charge to drop off trees at the San Martin Transfer Station at 14070 Llagas Ave. through Jan. 31.
Eco-Fact of the Week: The city’s annual end of the year furlough will result in City Hall being closed from Dec. 24-Jan. 2. During this time, police, fire and other emergency services will continue to be provided as normal. Some limited inspection services will also be available. Nearly all other city services will not be available during this time.
Please plan ahead to ensure that your needs for city services are met before Dec. 24.
The very fine particles—invisible to the eye—are the most harmful to health because they lodge deep in the lungs.
Eco-Web Pages of the Week: Many of us often have many guests at our home during holiday parties with lots of recyclable beverage containers. Many of these containers often wind up in the trash because guests don’t know where to recycle. How can the eco-conscientious party host tell their guests where to recycle? By hanging up one of the lovely signs the county has developed for this purpose. Visit the City’s What’s New page at www.morgan-hill.ca.gov/html/new/upcoming.asp to download the sign.
Anthony Eulo is an assistant to the city manager for the City of Morgan Hill who asks Santa to provide recycling containers out by the tree on Christmas morning. He welcomes your questions, comments, and thoughts and can be reached at en*****@************ca.gov or 779-7247.
