DES MOINES, Iowa - The end-of-year holidays aren't just a time filled with more cheer, but a time filled with more trash.
Leslie Irlbeck, program and outreach manager for Metro Waste Authority, says the best way to cut down on the garbage generated is through what's called pre-cycling.
"So when you're at the store and you're looking for gifts or you're looking for things to wrap those gifts, it's nice to keep in mind what will you do with it once it's served its purpose - can it be reused?" Irlbeck said. "Can it be recycled? Or will it end up going to the landfill?"
Irlbeck says between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, the average household produces about 25 percent more waste than normal.
When it comes to wrapping paper and greeting cards, Irlbeck points out much of it can be recycled.
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"You want the generic, plain old paper when you're looking for cards and wrapping paper, because those are the items that can be recycled," Irlbeck said. "So, that means avoiding some of those fun, sparkly, metallic, glittered papers that, unfortunately, cannot be recycled."
Irlbeck also noted that old garland should be donated or go into the trash, not the recycling bin, and the same is true for strands of Christmas lights.
For those who have live Christmas trees, many communities will have post-holiday recycling programs for their disposal.
