What to do with holiday packaging, Christmas trees
Here’s how to recycle your Christmas tree and holiday gift packaging:
Christmas trees
Boy Scouts will pick up trees on the curb in Bellingham, Ferndale, Blaine and Lynden on Jan. 9. Trees should be clear of decorations and on the curb by 8 a.m. Scouts will knock on doors or leave envelopes for donations. The trees are turned into mulch for parks.
Other options: People in Sanitary Service Co.’s FoodPlus! program can put their tree in their toter at no extra charge. If the tree won’t fit, the cost is $6 for a tree up to 8 feet. People not in FoodPlus! can arrange pickup by calling 360-734-3490 or drop off their tree at 1001 Roeder Ave. The fee is $6 for a tree up to 8 feet.
At Nooksack Valley Disposal, 250 Birch Bay-Lynden Road, cleaned cut trees can be dropped off for $2 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
Packaging
Wrapping and packaging paper: Most can be recycled, except those with foil. Crumpled paper used to cushion mailed gifts can be recycled.
Gift bags: Remove handles before recycling; put handles in trash. FoodPlus! customers can put handles made from natural fiber in their toters.
Cardboard: Gift boxes and cardboard boxes and tubes are recyclable. Sanitary Service accepts a pile of larger cardboard boxes up to 6 inches thick, 2 feet wide and 4 feet long for curbside pickup. Nooksack Valley accepts a pile 1 foot thick, 2 feet wide and 3 feet long.
Holiday cards: Plain and decorated cards are recyclable.
Toy packaging: The cardboard backing can be recycled. The hard, clear plastic cover and some other plastic items can be put in a large garbage bag and dropped off at 1001 Roeder Ave., for $5.
Ribbons and bows: Not recyclable but think about reusing them.
Packing peanuts: Nooksack Valley accepts plastic peanuts in bags and boxes so other people can reuse them. Ask a mailing store if they can use your peanuts.
Details: Sanitary Service, 360-734-3490; Nooksack Valley Disposal, 360-354-3400.
This story was originally published December 24, 2015 at 2:41 AM with the headline "What to do with holiday packaging, Christmas trees."