Celebrate the 12 Days of Disposal with CSWD

The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but it can also generate a lot of waste. To help you navigate the tricky task of disposing of holiday-related items sustainably, we’ve put together this guide.

1. Holiday Lights

Pro tip: Items that contain over 80% metal can be placed in the scrap metal bin at no fee.

2. Household Batteries

Batteries should never go in your blue-bin recycling or trash – in fact, as of July 1, batteries are banned from the landfill in Vermont.

Rechargeable batteries and single-use batteries can be recycled for no fee at a CSWD Drop-Off Center (except Burlington) or at CSWD’s Environmental Depot (by appointment only).

Many hardware stores accept batteries for recycling for no fee. Find statewide battery drop-off locations at the Call2Recycle locator.

3. Disposable Coffee Cups

‘Tis the season of coffee, tea, and hot chocolate! Unfortunately, disposable coffee cups are not recyclable at CSWD and should be placed in the trash. For an item to be recyclable it must be one material, and these cups are composed of two materials: paper with a plastic lining. To cut down on waste, opt for a reusable coffee cup instead!

4. Plastic Shopping Bags

There are so many alternatives to plastic bags! But if you do end up with plastic bags after a shopping haul or from shipping packaging, remember that plastic bags do not belong in your blue-bin recycling. However, you can recycle them at participating grocery stores. Just look for the bin labeled “plastic bag and film recycling” outside most grocery store entrances. Find a location near you!

Pro tip: This special recycling program takes bread bags, cereal bags, Ziplocs, and other stretchy plastics (as long as they are clean and dry)! Here is the full list of acceptable items you can recycle in a plastic bag and film collection bin.

5. Shipping Materials

Cardboard boxes: Flatten your boxes and remove any loose tape before recycling.

Bubble wrap: Consider reusing or taking to a plastic bag and film collection bin located at most grocery store entrances. The bubble wrap and other stretchy plastic bags and film collected in these bins will be recycled into Trex composite decking.

Plastic mailers: Consider reusing or taking to a plastic bag and film collection bin located at most grocery store entrances. Keep these out of blue-bin recycling!

Packing tape: Keep packing tape out of blue-bin recycling and instead throw in the trash. Tape is known as a “tangler” and can get caught in and damage equipment at our Materials Recycling Facility.

Styrofoam packing peanuts: Reuse or throw away in the trash.

Paper envelopes and mailers: Recycle with other paper products.

Padded paper envelopes and mailers: Reuse or throw away in the trash. For an item to be recyclable it must be one material, and padded paper envelopes are composed of two materials: paper and plastic padding.

Pro tip: Shop local to reduce shipping waste and carbon emissions!

6. Electronics

Donate working electronics to any of these locations. If broken or unusable, bring electronics to any CSWD Drop-Off Center (except Burlington) or CSWD’s Environmental Depot (by appointment only). Electronics require specialized recycling, so keep them out of blue-bin recycling and the trash and let us help you dispose of them responsibly! Visit our electronics page for more information on electronics recycling and fees.

7. Unwanted Clothes

Got clothes you no longer wear? Donate what you can to any of these locations! You can also bring unwanted clothes to any CSWD Drop-Off Center (except Burlington) and place them in our clothing bins for proper recycling.

We accept clean, dry clothing, footwear, sheets, towels, and accessories in any condition (no mold or odor, please). Items must be brought in closed 33-gallon bags or smaller. Check out the full list of clothing items that we accept.

8. Wrapping Paper

Did you know not all wrapping paper is recyclable? Uncoated paper and tissue paper can go in your blue bin, but anything with foil, glitter, plastic coating, or ribbons needs to be reused or disposed of in the trash.

Pro tip: Not sure if your wrapping paper is coated or not? Try the rip test! If the paper stretches, resists tearing, or shows signs of a plastic coating, then dispose of it in the trash. If the paper rips cleanly, then it’s recyclable!

9. Single-Use Foodware

We know it’s tempting to use disposable foodware, however, using your regular dishware will help to reduce waste. If you decide to opt to use disposable plates and utensils at your holiday dinner, remember to dispose of them in the trash, even compostable foodware. CSWD no longer accepts compostable foodware at our compost facility.

10. Food Scraps

Keep your food scraps out of the trash! Composting is a simple way to reduce your waste footprint. Drop your food scraps off at any CSWD Drop-Off Center or start a backyard compost pile for an eco-friendly holiday.

11. 4-Pack Can Holder

Those plastic can holders should not go in the trash! Use this map to find local breweries and stores that accept them for reuse. The next best option is to dispose of can holders (except those made of black plastic) in your blue-bin recycling.

12. Natural Christmas Trees

When you decide to part ways with your natural Christmas tree after the holidays, make sure to remove all decorations, lights, and tinsel first. You can then drop off your tree at CSWD’s Organics Recycling Facility on Redmond Road in Williston or at our Drop-Off Centers in South Burlington, Milton, or Essex. During December and January, there is no charge for disposal of up to three trees at these facilities. Other disposal options include bringing your tree to the McNeil Wood Waste Wood Yard or participating in your town’s curbside pickup or drop-off program, if available.

At CSWD, trees are ground into chips and used in the composting process at our Organics Recycling Facility, turning your holiday leftovers into a resource for healthy soil!

This holiday season, let’s all do our part to reduce waste and recycle responsibly!

Happy Holidays from CSWD!