Did you know Americans create 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day? In Tompkins County, be sure to follow these tips to recycle more and lower your environmental impact this holiday season:

• Most municipalities have programs for recycling Christmas trees and wreaths. Check with your city, town, or village.
• Trees and wreaths can also be brought to the yard waste area of the Recycling and Solid Waste Center (160 Commercial Avenue in Ithaca) at no cost to residents. Please remove all decorations and support wires.
• You can reduce food waste by using a dinner party calculator to estimate how much food you need
• Use the food scraps recycling drop spots for easy composting (13 locations).
• Wrapping paper, gift bags, greeting cards, and envelopes can be recycled at the curb (no metallic, plastic or foil-lined paper, and no tissue paper). Use wrapping paper that is made from recycled content, and always recycle cardboard boxes.
• Damaged LED holiday lights can be accepted with electronics at the Recycling and Solid Waste Center. Non-LED style light strands are also accepted, but must have the bulbs removed. Some retail stores and online outlets such as HolidayLEDs.com may accept complete older style light strands.
• Styrofoam is not recyclable, but packing peanuts may be accepted at certain shipping companies for reuse.

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