With the holidays approaching, the Region of Halton is reminding residents to sort out their festive waste into the proper containers including the Blue Box and GreenCart.
“We’d like to remind people to think of waste reduction during this time of the year,” says Shirley McLean from Halton Solid Waste Planning. “In the gift giving think about reducing waste and if you’re having a party, remember to use your green cart and blue boxes during your events.”
Waste from holiday festivities can be divided into the three groups of waste management. Items such as newspapers, fine paper and envelopes, plastic bottles, cardboard boxes and aluminum trays, cans and foil can be placed in the Blue Box.
The GreenCart can take most of the food waste after a holiday party. This includes meat and bones, breads, fruits, vegetables, along with parchment paper, wax paper, paper napkins, cups and plates. This does not include plastic compostable cups; these must be put in the regular garbage.
All remaining waste, including plastic film, bubble wrap, plastic cutlery and clear molded plastic must go in the regular garbage. All catering food trays and lids cannot be recycled and must go into the regular garbage.
Instead of using disposable cutlery, plates and napkins while entertaining, choose reusable options. If disposable is the only choice, choose paper over plastic or styrofoam.
If you are inundated with plastic bags during your holiday shopping, they can be returned to the bins placed in all major grocery stores across Halton. Plastic bags are kept separate from the household recycling due to the way that they are handled during the recycling process.
When wrapping gifts, choose newspaper or reuse other paper to wrap presents instead of wrapping paper. These, unlike wrapping paper can be recycled. Instead of wrapping in paper, consider using reusable items such as baskets, gift bags, tea towels to give gifts.
Wrapping paper cannot go into the Blue Box and must be placed in the regular garbage due to the way most wrapping paper is made. In addition, all wrapping paper, tape, ribbons and bows must go in the garbage.
Also, the Region of Halton suggests giving gifts that will not produce waste, such as tickets or gift certificates to events, dinner or other special locations. Other environmentally responsible gifts include reusable food and beverage containers, lunch bags, or items that contain recycled products such as stationery.
In January, the Region of Halton will collect Christmas trees in urban areas of the region. Residents are reminded that all tinsel, lights, decorations and plastic bags must be removed before collection. Also, trees should not be allowed to get stuck or frozen in snowbanks. The trees collected in January will be taken to the Halton Waste Management Site, where they will be turned into mulch. Specific collection dates are listed in the Waste Management Guide and Collection Calendar.
More information about recycling and waste management in the Region of Halton is available at www.halton.ca. Also, the Region has launched a blog at www.haltonrecycles.ca and a Twitter account @HaltonRecycles to discuss environmental topics in the region. Staff from Halton’s Waste Management department are available on both sites between 8:30 -4:30 on weekdays for up to date information about waste management in Halton Region.
Tags: waste management
About the author: Michelle Gatien
Michelle reports on the news and events happening in and around Burlington. Michelle is a long time resident of Aldershot.
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