Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle During the Holidays (and Every Day!)

As the holiday season kicks into full gear, many of us find ourselves in the midst of festive celebrations, shopping for gifts, and planning meals. While these traditions bring joy and warmth to our lives, they also come with a significant environmental impact. The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is urging residents to be mindful of the waste generated during this time of year and take simple steps to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, waste generation typically increases by 25%, with items like wrapping paper, holiday decorations, and food scraps contributing heavily to the trash stream. This increase in waste can put a strain on local landfills and impact the environment, but there’s good news: there are easy and creative ways to minimize waste and make your celebrations more sustainable.

A Sustainable Holiday Message from Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich

“During the holidays, it’s important to be mindful of the environmental impact of our celebrations,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “By focusing on reducing waste, reusing items, and recycling properly, we can enjoy the season while also protecting our environment. I hope all County residents and businesses consider a New Year’s resolution of small changes they can make in their daily lives to be more sustainable in 2025.”

This holiday season, consider adopting simple practices that can make a big difference in reducing waste—not just for the holidays, but all year long.

Easy Ways to Reduce Waste This Holiday Season

Here are a few tips from DEP to help you reduce, reuse, and recycle during the festive season:

1. Tackle Unwanted Mail

Holiday promotions and catalogs can fill your mailbox, but you can reduce junk mail by removing your name from mailing lists or registering for a “Do Not Mail” service. Reducing paper waste is an easy step to a more sustainable season.

2. Shop Locally and Thoughtfully

When shopping for gifts, try supporting local businesses and choosing items made from recycled materials. Or, get creative by repurposing old items into homemade gifts. And always remember to bring reusable shopping bags to avoid unnecessary plastic waste.

3. Get Creative with Gift Wrapping

Instead of using traditional wrapping paper, which often ends up in the trash, opt for repurposed or reusable materials. Old maps, fabric scraps, or gift bags make unique and eco-friendly alternatives. Don’t forget to reuse ribbons and bows from previous gifts!

4. Plan Meals and Reduce Food Waste

Food waste tends to spike during the holidays. Plan your meals carefully to avoid over-preparing and use durable, reusable dishware instead of disposable plates and cutlery. Make sure to recycle any bottles, jars, cans, and containers after use.

5. Recycle Your Christmas Tree

After the festivities have ended, make sure to recycle your live Christmas tree. Montgomery County offers curbside tree collection for residents of single-family homes and townhomes who receive weekly recycling service. Place your tree curbside by 7 a.m. on your regularly scheduled recycling day, and make sure all lights, decorations, and metal are removed.

6. Drop Off Your Tree for Recycling

If curbside collection is not available, you can bring your tree to the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station, located at 16105 Frederick Road in Derwood. The trees will be shredded and turned into mulch, a valuable resource for local landscaping.

“Properly disposing of Christmas trees is an easy but meaningful way for our community to support the County’s environmental efforts and start the new year with a focus on sustainability,” said DEP Director Jon Monger. “By recycling live trees and wreaths, we can transform them into valuable products like mulch that benefit the environment.”

Recycling Tips for All Residents

Here are some important guidelines for recycling your tree or wreath:

• Live Christmas trees: Trees should be free from lights, tinsel, decorations, and metal or plastic materials. Wreaths made from live branches and needles can also be recycled, but must be free from wire and metal used in the binding.
• Root balls: Trees with intact roots cannot be collected as yard trim.
• Apartments and Condominiums: Residents in these living situations should check with their property managers for specific recycling instructions.
• Businesses: Commercial property owners or managers should also provide details on how to recycle during the holiday season.

Start the New Year with Sustainability

As we close out 2024 and look ahead to the new year, let’s make sustainability a key focus. Reducing waste, reusing items, and recycling properly is an easy way to give back to the environment and set the stage for a greener 2025.

For more information on how to reduce waste, reuse items, and recycle effectively during the holiday season and beyond, visit the Montgomery County DEP website. Let’s work together to make our community cleaner, greener, and more sustainable this holiday season and into the new year!

Happy Holidays! 🌱