How To Recycle Tricky Holiday Items In King County

KING COUNTY, WA — With the holiday season entering the final stretch for 2021, King County officials have assembled a detailed list of resources to help residents properly dispose of tricky items after Christmas.

Whether it's throwing out old electronics after finding something new under the Christmas tree, recycling used Christmas lights, or figuring out what to do with excess styrofoam, plastic wrap and other shipping materials, there are a few easy ways to clear out the junk in an earth-friendly way. For Christmas trees, most local collectors will pick them up from the curb. If you miss the window, the county's transfer stations will accept them for a small fee.

Here's what to know, from the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

Holiday String Lights: Do you have a pile of burned-out holiday lights? Are you planning to replace old holiday lights with energy-efficient LED lights? Don't throw out old lights – recycle them! If you buy new, energy-efficient holiday lights during after Christmas sales, ask your retailer if they accept used lights, or visit one of the many light recycling locations in the Puget Sound region. Strings of lights cannot be recycled in a curbside bin.

Gift Wrap: Most plain wrapping paper can go in a recycling container. A little tape is fine but remove big pieces. Consider saving reusable wrapping paper, along with ribbons and bows. Glittery paper, coated paper, gift bags, and ribbons that can’t be used again should go in the garbage.

Packing Materials: Styrofoam (polystyrene) packing materials can’t be recycled in curbside carts, but many gift stores or shipping centers will accept clean packing peanuts free of charge to reuse. For locations, check with your city’s recycling program, or check King County’s What do I do with…? website.

Plastic Wrap, Bags and Film: Pallet wrap, shrink wrap, plastic mailers, and plastic grocery bags do not belong in curbside recycling because they get tangled in equipment at recycling facilities. Recycle clean plastics instead at one of many retail locations, or find a King County transfer station that accepts plastic recycling. While throwing plastic bags and wrap in the garbage is the least-desirable option, it's better to toss them out rather than contaminating other recyclables.

Trees: Give your dry Christmas tree new life as compost or wood chips. If you have residential yard waste collection service, many local haulers will pick up trees that are set out on the curb Another option is city-sponsored recycling events. King County will recycle trees under 8-feet-tall at its Bow Lake, Factoria, Shoreline, Vashon, and Enumclaw recycling and transfer stations and the Cedar Falls Drop Box for the $16 yard waste fee that takes effect on Jan. 1.

Food: Scraps, moldy, even rotten post-feast food can always be composted. The best way to compost right is to put food and food-soiled paper in the compost bin and keep plastic out. Plastic bags, containers, and packaging should never be go in compost bins because they can contaminate compost people use on lawns and gardens. Check your local compost guidelines to ensure you're putting the right materials in your compost bin.

Electronics: If you got the latest and greatest gadgets in your stocking, be sure to recycle old electronics at a Take it Back Network location. They will accept products such as computers, TVs, cell phones, and certain other household electronics. You can also recycle computers, monitors, TVs, and e-readers for free at E-Cycle Washington locations.

Recycle Right in the New Year: Still stumped about what’s recyclable? Check with your local hauler. Putting something in recycling that doesn’t belong there could send the entire load to the landfill. If you’re ever unsure, uncertain, or in doubt about where something goes, the best option is to throw it out. Check out King County’s Recycle Right site for more information on home recycling.