Dec. 16, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 558

For more information contact Crystal Nagyiski, Pollution Prevention, 302-739-9072; Bill Miller, Division of Air and Waste Management, 302-739-9403; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Trim Your Holiday Wasteline
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle to Protect the Environment

During the holidays, boxes, wrappings, packaging and party goods add thousands of extra bags of garbage to Delaware’s landfills. When deposited in a landfill, an old Christmas tree can take up as much space as a washing machine. To save valuable landfill space and help protect the environment, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control urges Delawareans to reduce, reuse and recycle. Here are some helpful tips to trim your holiday “wasteline.”

·         Recycle your Christmas tree. Drop off your old tree at a DNREC yard waste site in New Castle County or a state park in Kent or Sussex County – Killens Pond near Felton, Trap Pond near Laurel, and Cape Henlopen near Lewes. Visit DNREC’s website, www.dnrec.delaware.gov  for drop-off locations and hours.

·         Collect and reuse boxes, ribbons, bows and other gift decorations. Wrapping paper, tissue paper and greeting cards can also be recycled along with junk mail or magazines.

·         Save used Christmas cards to cut up as gift tags for next year.

·         Recycle cardboard and paperboard (such as soda boxes) through your curbside collection program or by taking them to a recycling drop-off location.

·         Use dishes, silverware and cloth napkins instead of disposable utensils, styrofoam, and paper products. 

For more information visit DNREC’s website for information on pollution prevention, www.dnrec.delaware.gov/p2  or recycling, www.dnrec.delaware.gov/whs/awm/Pages/Recycling.aspx