Learn if your holiday waste is naughty or nice on our Holiday Recycling and Waste Guide
Gift Wrapping Materials
Wrapping Paper
Recycle: Plain Paper
- Scrunch Test: Crumple it! If the paper stays crumpled, it’s likely recyclable. If it tries to spring back to its original shape, it’s probably plastic or has a coating.
- Rip Test: Tear it! If it tears easily and the inside has a fibrous or matte texture (not shiny), it’s recyclable.
Trash: Metallic, Glittery, or Plastic-Lined Paper
- Wrapping paper with metallic finishes, glitter, or a plastic coating should be thrown away because these materials can’t be recycled.
Tape & Glue
Trash: A little tape or glue is fine, but if it’s removed and on it’s own, or if its completely covering a package, it belongs in the trash.
Ribbon and Bows
Trash: Not recyclable. Save and reuse if you can.
Tissue Paper
Recycle or Compost: Plain Paper
Trash: Metallic, Glittery, or Plastic-Lined Paper
Wrapping Paper Tubes
Recycle: Cardboard tubes can go in the bin.
Gift Bags
Recycle: Plain paper bags (pass the rip test). Remove handles.
Trash: Glittery, laminated, or plastic-coated bags.
Cards and Envelopes
Paper Cards
Recycle: Cards without music, batteries, glitter, foil, or photo coated (doesn’t rip easily) paper.
Trash: Cards with batteries, glitter, foil, or plastic coatings.
TIP: Use the rip test—recyclable cards are easy to rip and have no plastic liners.
Music or Battery Cards
Recycle: Detach the paper portion if it passes the rip test. BATTERY MUST BE REMOVED!
Trash/E-Waste: Batteries and electronic components must be handled as e-waste and not put in your regular recycling bin. Bring to HHW facility or look for other options here.
Photo or Glittery Cards
Trash: Photo paper is glossy and plastic-like, making it unrecyclable.
Card Envelopes
Recycle: Plain paper envelopes.
Trash: Envelopes with glitter, foil, or plastic liners.
Packaging Materials
Product Packaging
Mostly Trash: Most of what product manufacturers use to package their products is full of non-recyclable packaging. Things like:
- Hard plastic packaging/boxes
- Blister Plastic Packaging
- Styrofoam
- Plastic Bubble Wrap or Air Pillows
- Hard “paperboard” that is actually plastic
Some Recycle: Some recyclable items are usually mixed in that you can separate out to recycle. Things like:
- Cardboard boxes (do the rip test to make sure not plastic)
- Paperboard boxes (do the rip test to make sure not plastic)
- Paper instructions or inserts (do the rip test to make sure not plastic)
Cardboard Boxes
Recycle: Clean, flattened cardboard boxes. Remove all bubble wrap, foam, etc.
Packing Peanuts & Foam
NOT RECYCLABLE: Reuse if possible or trash.
Bubble Wrap & Air Pillows
Trash: Reuse these if possible or bring to Plastic Bag drop off location (if clean).
Packing Paper
Recycle: Brown or white packing paper can be recycled.
Food and Drink Items
Food and Drink Containers
Recycle: Clean, empty items like:
- Cartons, Paper Cups, Paper Plates (ONLY if clean)
- Metal cans
- Glass bottles & jars
- Plastic bottles, tubs & jugs
Trash: Containers with too much food residue, plastic utensils, or straws.
Food Scraps and Leftovers
NOT RECYCLABLE: Compost if possible.
Plastic Cutlery and Straws
Trash: These can’t be recycled. Try reusable options.
Wine Bottle Corks
Trash: Natural cork can be composted, but synthetic corks go in the trash.
Plastic & Foam Trays, Clamshells (Meat, Berries, To-Go)
Trash: Black, foam or flimsy plastic used for meat trays, berry and salad containers, and to-go clamshells can’t be recycled. Try to avoid these as much as possible, but these are trash.
Paper Towels & Napkins
Compost or Trash: Paper napkins and paper towels are not recyclable. Place in trash or compost.
Plastic Wrap and Plastic Bags
Trash: If dirty, plastic wrap and bags are trash. If clean you can bring to a plastic film drop off location- find info here.
Aluminum Foil & Trays
Recycle: Clean aluminum foil and trays (roll clean foil into a ball to help sorting process).
Trash: Trays with stuck-on food.
Beverage Cans & Bottles
Please Recycle: Metal Cans and Glass bottles can be recycled endlessly and never lose their quality! Please keep these out of the trash to save resources and energy 🙂
“Real” Glasses, Dishes, Silverware
Trash: These types of dishes, whether made from glass, ceramic, metal or plastic, are not recyclable in your single stream bin. Please donate if still usable! Find donate options here.
Disposable Party Cups
Trash: Most disposable cups are made from styrofoam or plastics that cannot be recycled (red solo cups and “low-melt” types).
Note: Some plastic cups are now made from #2 or #5, those are the only exception and can be recycled if empty 🙂
Bottle Caps and Tub Lids
Recycle: Put plastic caps back on bottles, tubs and jugs after emptying, as loose caps are often too small to be processed.
Décor and Household Items
String Lights
Trash/E-Waste: Take to HHW facility. Do not put in your recycling bin—they jam machines.
Holiday Décor (ornaments, stockings)
Trash: Not recyclable. Please donate if in good shape. See where to donate here.
Candles and Holders
Recycle: Clean glass jars or metal/tin can holders (must be clean)
Trash: Wax, leftover candles, or any non glass bottle/jar or metal can type holder.
Gifts & Unwanted Items
Used Toys and Gifts
Donate or Trash: Please donate if in good condition, otherwise, trash— does NOT belong in recycling bin.
Unwanted Clothing or Fabric
Donate: Not recyclable. Please donate if in good shape. See where to donate here.
If not in good shape, check the Diversion Directory where to bring clothes to dispose responsibly.
Advent Calendars
Recycle: Paper calendars without plastic inserts.
Trash: Calendars with glitter, foil, or plastic parts.
Trash: Unwanted toys or candy wrappers found inside.
Clean-up
Cleaning Containers
Recycle: Platic Bottles, Tubs or Jugs -IF- Empty and clean. If contained any toxic or harmful cleaning chemicals, please rinse and air dry to protect the recycling team!
Trash: Pumps (contain mixed metal and plastic which makes it not recyclable).
HHW Facility: Any remaining chemicals or partially full containers, responsibly dispose at the Household Hazardous Waste facility (find all disposal options here).
Cleaning Rags or Towels
Trash: Not recyclable. Donate if reusable OR check the Diversion Directory where to bring clothes to dispose responsibly.
Tips for Holiday Recycling
- Stick to the Yes List: Accepted items don’t change seasonally… stick to the yes list when recycling!
- Empty and Dry: Empty and rinse quickly if dirty to keep rood residue at a minimum.
- Use the Scrunch Test: Crumple paper items—if they stay crumpled, they’re likely recyclable.
- Try the Rip Test: Tear items to check if it’s easy to rip, or has plastic or shiny liner. If easy and fibrous liner = recyclable. Hard to rip or Shiny/plastic-like = trash.
- Think Before You Toss: When in doubt, it’s better to leave it out than contaminate the recycling bin.
- Beyond the Bin: If it can’t be recycled in your bin, but can be reused or recycled elsewhere— get it to the right place with the diversion directory! A little effort goes a long way.
This guide makes holiday recycling simple, so you can focus on enjoying the season while reducing waste responsibly! If we missed something, please let us know!
Learn all about the do’s and don’ts when it comes to Holiday Waste and Recycling from Millennium’s recycling podcast!
See all podcasts here.
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