 | Brian Shaw is the owner/operator of Action Hauling. Brian runs the company with the help of his fiance Michelle. Their goal is to help individuals and business’ by cleaning up and properly disposing of junk, debris, and rubbish. You can contact Brian by phone at 316-210-6309. |
Environment
2009-12-01 08:24:00
Tips on getting rid of holiday trash
Answer: You may not be feeling so festive when it’s time to dig your way out of the mountains of wrapping paper, boxes, bows and evergreens that accumulated during your celebrations. Don’t lament. There are several options for getting rid of your holiday refuse in an Earth-friendly way.
The tags and the tinsel, the trimmings, the trappings!
According to the earth911.com Web site, it can be difficult to find a location to recycle wrapping paper because it often includes non-recyclable materials such as dyes and laminates, or non-paper additives such as gold and silver coloring, glitter or tape.
Single-ply chipboard boxes, such as shirt boxes, can be recycled and should be put into curbside recycling bins in small amounts. As a security measure, one would be advised to break down boxes and turn them inside out to avoid advertising your new “stuff” to passers-by.
For heavier boxes, such as those made of corrugated cardboard, take these materials to a recycling site.
One can also reuse items such as ribbons and gift bags.
To cut down on waste, unless you’re reading this article online, you’re already using a recyclable item that can be used instead of foam to protect items shipped through the mail. (Just be sure to read the entire newspaper before wadding it up and stuffing it into a box. Thanks.)
Techno-trash
No doubt, many people will upgrade to a flat-panel digital television set this holiday season since broadcasters have stopped sending out traditional TV signals. Or maybe you’ll receive a fancy new computer.
That means you need to take care of the obsolete equipment.
People can also visit www.freecycle.org, which is a free online service allowing users to offer their gently used merchandise for free. The takers often will pick up the item to be given away. In return, users who give can be eligible to get other items the same way from the site.
Oh. Christmas tree.
That live tree sure looked and smelled lovely in early December. But when it hangs around longer than a dreaded relative, it can become a fire hazard.
According to www.worldofchristmas.net, there are several do-it-yourself “green” options for your played-out live tree.
--You can turn it into a bird shelter in the yard — just leave the tree in its stand.
--You can trim branches off the tree and use them to protect your garden from frost, or as mulch.
--You can make homemade trellises or tomato stakes from the trunk.
--You can make a fish habitat in your pond or stream by submerging the tree.
WorldOfChristmas.net cautions against burning the tree in the fireplace. That can cause a buildup of an oily substance called creosote in your chimney. When creosote gets hot enough, it can ignite and you could have fire in your chimney.
As for those once-fresh wreaths and garlands, or pumpkins and nuts, these are considered “seasonal waste” and not “yard waste,” so they should be put into your regular trash.
