Responsibly disposing of your mounds of extra holiday waste this Christmas season is easy with the help of the La Porte County Solid Waste District.
Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, Americans generate an additional million tons of household waste beyond the amount usually created at other times of the year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It's a massive 25 percent spike in waste that occurs like clockwork every year.
“Most of that waste, such as discarded wrapping paper, packaging and boxes, greeting cards, used batteries and old electronics, can be recycled through the Solid Waste District’s various programs,” said Alicia Ebaugh, the District’s education and public outreach coordinator. “And many things can be reused, recyclable or not.”
Here’s a quick guide:
- Curbside recycling – You can recycle paper gift wrap (no foil types or bows), cardboard and paperboard boxes, plastic packaging, greeting cards, Styrofoam packing and peanuts (contained in a plastic bag), and plastic bags (please pack all together).
- Used batteries and cell phones – Accepted year-round at 16 locations throughout the county, including Al’s Supermarkets, Kabelin Ace Hardware stores, and our office, 2857 W. State Road 2.
- Used electronics – If you “upgraded” your TV, DVD player, video game system, computer or other electronic device this Christmas, recycle your old one at one of the District’s electronics recycling trailers. The site at 1027 Hitchcock Road in Michigan City is open from 7 am to 3pm Monday through Friday, and the site at 5th Street and Zigler Road (outside the County Highway barn) in La Porte is open from 6 am to 2:30 pm Monday through Friday.
If your cell phones or electronic items still work, consider trying to find new homes for them instead of just throwing them out. Perhaps your local homeless shelter, church or a family in need could use them.
Look for ways to avoid creating garbage. Rather than wrapping gifts for youngsters, hide the presents and turn Christmas into a treasure hunt. Create your own recyclable wrapping paper by using the Sunday comics, magazines and wrapping paper recovered from previous events. You can also reuse bags and boxes; items like shredded wrapping paper, broken ornaments and greeting cards are great for art projects.
Live Christmas trees may be composted, or may be picked up by your local trash hauler for composting. More information on this will be available later this month.
Please contact the Solid Waste District at (219) 326-0014 with any questions, visit our website at www.solidwastedistrict.com, or message us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LPCoRecycling.