TULSA, Okla. — Cleaning up after the holidays can be a big chore. Local recycling companies are working to make it easier for you to get rid of your holiday trash.
Instead of throwing away leftover wrapping paper and containers, American Waste Control is encouraging people to recycle through their Unboxing Christmas Campaign. They ask people to recycle items such as paper goods and items found in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry. They don’t want people recycling holiday items such as gift bags, bows and ribbons and certain types of wrapping paper.
“What we’re looking for in wrapping paper is it’s going to look very much like your newspaper, that kind of a look to it," said Robert Pickens, vice president of recycling for American Waste Control. "Kind of a non-glossy look. And then a little bit of a glossier look like your Sunday slicks, that type of wrapping paper is okay to place in your recycling. But the real glossy, glittery, foil type wrapping paper or gift boxes or gift bags, place that in the trash.”
They will also take most plastic and aluminum bottles and containers.
“You can place your bottles, your cans, your paper, everything into your recycle bin," Pickens said. "And also a Mr. Murph recycle bin if you don’t have curbside recycling available to you.”
Now is also a good time to recycle any old electronics. The Electronic Synergy Foundation is holding an e-waste collection event now through the end of the year. Recycling your electronics instead of throwing them away helps the environment.
“Electronics contain a lot of heavy metals that become toxic if you put them in the trash," said Scott Metzger, president of ESF. "And they go from the trash to the landfill where they sit and leach out toxins like lead and mercury over time. And when they leech out, they’re going to end up in the ground water.”
Electronic items can be taken to ESF located at 6522 E King St.
Those looking to recycle their Christmas tree in Tulsa can take it to the city’s mulch site at 2100 N. 145th East Ave. You can also put trees, cut up in 4-foot sections, at the curb on collection day. Artificial trees go in the gray trash can.
You can find other items that can or cannot be recycled at American Waste Control here.
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