With the holidays in full swing, it can only mean one thing—holiday parties, gift buying and eating one too many cookies.
All we can say about eating too many holiday goodies is to come up with a good exercise plan. However, we do have some specific tips on how you can manage the excess waste generated during this time of year.
Use reusable bags—The next time you go grocery shopping to pick up items for your holiday feasts and social gatherings, don’t forget to take your reusable grocery bags. Not only can you fit more items into each bag, you also will reduce your use of disposable plastic bags. However, if you forget your reusable bags, please remember to recycle your plastic bags at your local grocery store or favorite retailer. Plastic bags are not accepted in Mesa’s blue barrel, as they can become entangled in the machines and slow down the sorting process.
Bonus tip: If you are only buying one or two items, consider skipping the bag altogether.
Buy items with recycled packaging—Not only is it important to buy items that come in recyclable packaging, but also in packaging accepted in your recycling program. As an example, when buying a carton of eggs, it is better to buy eggs that come in a paper carton versus a Styrofoam one. While both are recyclable, only the paper carton is accepted in Mesa’s blue barrel. Styrofoam is not accepted, as there is no local buyer for this material.
Buy items with reduced packaging—Try to avoid buying items encased in excess packaging. Many manufacturers now are realizing minimal packaging is not only good for the environment, but also helps them reduce their operating costs.
Recycle—Don’t forget to maximize the use of your blue recycle barrel. Acceptable materials placed into this container will be recycled and kept out of the landfill. If you find you have large boxes or a temporary surge of excess recyclables, don’t forget to use the City of Mesa’s public recycling drop-off center. The 24-hour drop-off site is located at the East Mesa Service Center, 6935 E. Decatur St. Large bins are available for residents to recycle their cardboard, and blue barrels are available for everything else.
Reminder: Items placed into the blue barrel should be loose, dry and relatively clean. Please do not bag your recyclables, which can slow down the sorting process.
For more information about Mesa’s recycling programs, visit www.mesarecycles.org, or call City of Mesa Customer Service at (480) 644-2221. Residents also may send in their trash and recycling questions to waste.info@mesaaz.gov.
Exactly how much more waste do Mesa residents generate due to the holidays?
In 2011, Mesa residents sent 2,075 tons of trash to the landfill, and recycled 617 tons of material per week on an average basis. However, during the week after Christmas and the week after New Year’s, the average increased to 2,326 tons of trash and 810 tons of recyclable material per week. Therefore, for the two holiday weeks, trash levels increased 12 percent, and recycling activity increased 31 percent more than the average week.
Thinking ahead…
After the holidays, don’t forget to recycle your Christmas tree. Visit www.mesarecycles.org for recycling options.