This holiday season, Republic Services encourages consumers and customers across the region to incorporate sustainability into their celebrations and family gatherings with helpful sustainability tips.
During the holidays, Americans on average generate 25 percent more waste than normal, or almost 1,000 pounds of waste per household. Roughly 80 percent of what is thrown away during the holidays could be recycled or reused, according to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Republic’s holiday sustainability tips include:
1. Save and reuse gift bags, ribbons and bows for next year – it’s smart for the environment and for your wallet.
2. Recycle that wrapping paper, even the glittery kind.
3. Curb paper waste by creating personalized e-cards using one of the many user-friendly websites available.
4. Use shredded paper for packing instead of foam. Newsprint, magazines and scrap paper can add a personal touch.
5. Make a shopping list before going to the store to avoid food waste.
6. Save and reuse the bubble wrap. It’s tempting, but try not to pop it.
7. Always make sure your recyclables are empty, clean and dry before tossing them into the recycling container.
“The holidays can be a hectic time for everyone,” Don Tibbets, general manager of Republic Services, said in a press release. “But, there are so many opportunities throughout the season to make simple, sustainable choices. We hope these tips will make it a little easier for everyone to incorporate sustainability into their holiday celebrations.”
A few items to reuse, repurpose or dispose of this holiday season include bubble wrap, holiday ribbons and bows, gift bags, cellophane and packing foam or polystyrene foam. Keep in mind that toy packaging made of heavy cardboard is not recyclable unless the cardboard is separated from the plastic. Sticky gift tags are not recyclable by themselves, but they are acceptable if affixed to an envelope or wrapping paper.
Additionally, by ensuring that recyclables are empty of their contents, clean of any residue and dry before tossing them into the recycling container, consumers can do their part to help reduce recycling contamination. This better ensures that recyclables are ultimately repurposed into new materials as originally intended.
It can also play an important part in reinvigorating the economics of recycling, which will help to preserve the environmental benefits of recycling for generations to come.
Republic Services employs 563 people in the Seattle area serving more than 167,500 residential, commercial and multifamily customers throughout the cities of Seattle, Bellevue, Lynwood and Kent. Republic owns and operates a fleet of more than 203 collection trucks, including 118 trucks powered by Compressed Natural Gas. Republic operates one recycle center, six transfer stations and one landfill locally.
Visit republicservices.com or contact the customer service team at 206-682-9735 to learn more about acceptable recyclables, holiday collection times and special instructions for disposing of Christmas trees.
