Christmas Tree Recycling

Christmas Tree Recycling - Urban County Government Collection:

Christmas trees can be recycled with yard waste. Put trees on the curb for normal collection day.  Make sure all ornaments and tinsel are removed from the tree. Contact LexCall 3-1-1, or 425-2255, if Christmas Tree is not collected on your normal collection day. 

Apartment and businesses should call LexCall for information on Christmas tree pickup.

Christmas Tree Recycling - Private Collection:

The Division of Streets and Roads will pick up Christmas Trees from those residents who do not have UCG Waste Management garbage collection.

lexcall.lexingtonky.gov/Services/Knowledgebase/defaultdivisions.aspx

WASTE MANAGEMENT OF KENTUCKY OFFERS IDEAS FOR REDUCING WASTE AT THE HOLIDAYS 

The traditional song calls for people to dream of a white Christmas, but for the conscientious consumer, it can also be a green holiday season. Along with good holiday cheer comes a lot of extra waste. Americans throw away 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, which amounts to about 1.2 million extra tons per week (or an extra 6 million tons during the entire holiday season). This year, though, you can take steps to reduce the annual increase in waste created during the holiday season.

 “If each of us took a few small steps to reduce the waste we produce or increase the amount of materials we recycle during the holidays, we’d save a tremendous amount of materials, energy and landfill space,” said Terri Douglas, community relations manager at Waste Management. “There is no shortage of ways to cut down on wastefulness at the holidays.”

 Composting can reduce the amount of organic waste produced in the home. Holiday meal preparation can generate a large amount of potato peels, fruit rinds, coffee grinds, other vegetable waste and eggshells that can be composted. Compost piles are easy to create and composting bins can make a great gift for those looking to take recycling to the next level.

 For the even more ambitious recycler, consider giving the gift of vermiculture: indoor recycling that uses worms to digest organic waste and create a rich compost that can be used in the garden or in your houseplants.

 If you have a fresh tree, garland or wreaths, be sure to recycle them when the holidays are over. Check with your municipal office about tree collection schedules. If you live in a rural or less-densely developed area, trees can be placed in an out-of-the-way spot and will create habitat for wildlife.

 If getting your holiday decorations out of storage makes you ask yourself where you’ll find space to put them away in January, maybe it’s time to clean out the attic or basement. Before you throw things away and therefore miss opportunities to recycle, consider whether an item still has a service life and is acceptable for donation to an organization such as the Salvation Army.

Did you know that four million tons of wrapping paper and shopping bag waste is created during the holiday season? 
Almost half of the paper America consumes throughout the year is used to wrap and decorate consumer products. 

With all that waste, why not get creative with your gift wrapping?

Here are a few ideas:
 - Gift wrap with newspaper.  Personalize it by selecting different sections for certain people, sports page for Dad or your sporty girlfriend, and comics for your little brother or sister.
 - Use recycled paper.  You can reuse paper or bags from previous gifts or look for wrapping paper that is made from recycled materials.
 - You can also recycle your wardrobe by cutting it up and use it to wrap presents.  One cool idea is to cut the sleeve of an old sweater or flannel and slide a bottle of wine or some bubble bath into it secure it with a bow and you have a colorful gift.

For more information go to sarasnow.com

As the weather turns colder, everyone is looking for fast, free ways to save on energy around the home this winter. 

Here are a few ideas from home improvement expert, Tom Kraeutler.

 1.) Lock your windows.  Don’t just close them, by locking them it creates an airtight seal that keeps out leaks and drafts.
2.) Get free solar heat by opening the blinds and shades on your windows during the day. 
3.) Add a sweater and lower the thermostat. For every degree you lower the thermostat, you can save about 5 percent on heating costs.  
4.) Remove lint often from your clothes dryer and its outside vent. Also, run your clothes dryer in the evening when the extra heat helps warm your house. 
5.) Close the doors and heating vents in rooms with minimal use such as walk-in closets, laundry rooms and guest bedrooms. 
6.) Snuggle up under more blankets at night and turn your heat down will help energy costs. 
 

Black Friday is a day where millions of shoppers flock to the retail stores to fill their carts and get the best deal as the holiday shopping season officially kicks off.

While you are burning off those Thanksgiving meals,  think about how you can stay eco-friendly while shopping.