EDMONTON — Holiday lights, tinsel and wrapping paper – the folks at Edmonton Waste Management see it all following the holiday season, but a lot of your Christmas trash doesn’t actually belong in the garbage.
The city gathers twice as much material in the two weeks following Christmas than it normally does in January and February combined. Last year, the City of Edmonton collected 2,811 tonnes of waste in the week after Dec. 25, more than twice the amount compared to the previous week.
The City of Edmonton wants people to remember to properly dispose of their holiday trash.
“Decorations, gifts and festive treats – they are all part of the holiday season and they leave behind a lot of waste. At this time of year, it’s important for us to remind residents of how to best take care of it,” said Erika Droessler, education programs coordinator with Waste Management Services.
What belongs in the garbage?
- Food waste
- Styrofoam
- Plastic cutlery
- Metallic gift wrap, ribbon, string
- Empty chocolate boxes
- Catering trays
What belongs in the recycle bin?
- Paper
- Non-foil gift wrap
- Plastic and glass bottles
- Aluminum cans
- Cardboard boxes
What belongs at the Eco Station?
- Christmas lights
- Extension cords
- Electronics
- Scrap metal
- Batteries
For more information on holiday trash sorting, visit the City of Edmonton’s website.