The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality says that Louisiana residents should plan ahead to reduce the amount of holiday waste and recycle useful items. The department has outlined tips that residents can use to have a more waste-free holiday season.
December, according to the department, is the month that generates the most waste in the nation. The following are tips provided by the department:
Think green:
Wrapping gifts can be a challenge since wrapping paper is frequently not recyclable. Be creative! Wrap a gift in a gift — such as a scarf, bandana, dishtowel or cloth shopping bag. The comic pages from the Sunday paper and most colorful flyers reuse paper and are still recyclable. Last year’s Christmas and holiday cards can be used in crafts and as ornaments.
Out with the old, Make room for the new:
Before the holidays is a perfect time to clean out your clutter and unused items. If you have outgrown toys and clothing, consider donating them to charitable organizations. Discarded electronics (computers, copiers, fax machines, printers and monitors) may be donated to a local nonprofit agency or the Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council (CACRC). CACRC provides computers to schools, families and nonprofits. Visit the council’s website at www.cacrc.com for details.
Decorating your home? Consider the environment:
An artificial tree doesn’t have to be discarded and a live tree can be replanted. If you purchase a cut tree, remember that it cannot be flocked or have tinsel or decorations on it if it is to be recycled. Cut trees are usually collected in early January and are ground up into compost or mulch. You can find information about seasonal pickups and recycling from your local government or for East Baton Rouge Parish from the EBR Parish Recycling website: http://www.brgov.com/recycle.
LED Christmas lights last longer, save energy and money and they can be recycled. Go to http://www.holidayleds.com/christmas-light-recycling-program.aspx for recycling instructions.
Recycling packaging materials such as cardboard and plastic foam peanuts really helps. For information on recycling plastic foam peanuts, or if you are a retailer interested in foam peanut recycling, go tohttp://www.epspackaging.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35&Itemid=36.
Buy rechargeable batteries for toys, cameras and gadgets. When those batteries no longer hold a charge, call the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation at 800-8-BATTERY, or go to their website athttps://www.call2recycle.org/ for information on the nearest battery recycling drop off location.
Have a safe holiday season and remember to never burn wrapping paper or Christmas trees in the fireplace. For more recycling ideas, go to: http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/page/recycling.
https://deq.louisiana.gov/assets/docs/Land/HolidayrecyclingPR2018.pdf
