Holiday Recycling Tips

With the holiday season upon us, Deschutes County Solid Waste wants to share the following holiday recycling tips:

String lights: reuse or recycle
String lights can be recycled, free of charge, at Deschutes Recycling through the end of January. They will also be accepted for recycling at the Negus, Northwest, Southwest and Alfalfa Transfer Stations.

Packaging materials

• Wrapping paper: reuse, recycle or throw away
  If the wrapping paper is not reusable, then you can put it in curbside recycling if it doesn't have metallic foil or glitter. You can also recycle it at Deschutes Recycling and the County Transfer Stations. However, if it does have metallic foil or glitter, put it in the garbage.
   
• Gift bags, ribbon: reuse or throw away
  If possible, save gift bags and ribbon for future use. Otherwise, toss them in the garbage.
   
• Gift tissue: reuse, recycle or throw away
  If still in good condition, save gift tissue for future use. If the gift tissue is plain, you can recycle it. However, if the gift tissue has glitter or a metallic sheen, toss it in the garbage.
   
• Rigid plastic: throw away
  Rigid plastics, like clamshells, are not included in your curbside recycling program and are not accepted for recycling at Deschutes Recycling or the County Transfer Stations. Please toss them in the garbage.
   
• Bubble wrap & packing peanuts: reuse, bring to a recycling depot or throw away
  Materials such as bubble wrap and packing peanuts can be reused. Bubble wrap and packing peanuts are not included in your curbside recycling program and are not accepted for recycling at Deschutes Recycling or the County Transfer Stations.
   
• Styrofoam
  Styrofoam is not included in your curbside recycling program and is not accepted for recycling at Deschutes Recycling or the County Transfer Stations. 

Christmas trees: recycle

If you have curbside yard debris collection, you can have your tree collected at home. You will need to cut your tree to fit in the curbside yard debris cart with the lid closed. You can do this for as many weeks as necessary. If the tree is not in the cart, an extra fee may be charged. Be sure to remove all the decorations and the stand. 

You can also drop off your tree at Deschutes Recycling, 61050 SE 27th St in Bend, where you can recycle it for free through January 31. Christmas trees will also be accepted at no charge through the end of January at the Negus, Northwest, Southwest and Alfalfa Transfer Stations.

You may also find a Boy Scout troop or other non-profit to take your tree.