Staff at Airdrie’s Waste and Recycling Depot are reminding residents to recycle their Christmas cards, boxes, wrapping paper, gift bags and packaging after the holiday season.
“It can all be recycled,” said Waste and Recycling Team Leader Susan Grimm, adding the ribbons and bows must be removed first.
“We have the facilities in place, we make it as easy as we can. We want people to come and we want to leave the world a better place for our kids.”
Wrapping paper can be put into the mixed paper bin, while plastic and Styrofoam should be removed from cardboard boxes and put in the appropriate containers.
Stretchy plastics, including cellophane and the plastic film that encases cardboard boxes, can be recycled and should be put in the same bin as plastic bags.
All the materials will be baled and sent away to a variety of locations to be recycled into new objects.
Real Christmas trees will also be accepted at the Eastside Recycle Depot until Feb. 1. The dropoff site is located just outside and to the right of the depot. Grimm said the location is well marked by signage.
FortisAlberta and Asplundh are partnering with the City of Airdrie and chipping the trees at no cost, said Grimm.
The resulting mulch will be used in city planters, beds and pathways throughout the coming year.
Grimm said all decorations, tinsel and tree bags must be removed before the trees can be chipped.
The tree bags can be recycled in the main depot area.
Grimm encourages residents to take advantage of the service, adding garbage collectors won’t pick up the discarded trees.
“The hours are convenient and it keeps the trees out of the landfill,” she said.
The Eastside Depot is closed Dec. 24 and 25, open Dec. 26 to 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1.
The Westside Depot is open 24 hours, 7 days a week through the holiday season.
For more information, visitwww.airdrie.ca
