As the holiday season approaches, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is sharing reminders on how to reduce holiday waste. Trash increases by 25% from Thanksgiving to New Year's, with wrapping paper and food scraps contributing significantly to the waste stream, according to the Montgomery County Government release.
County Executive Marc Elrich emphasized the importance of environmental awareness during this time, saying, "During the holidays, it’s important to be mindful of the environmental impact of our celebrations," and encouraged residents and businesses to adopt sustainable practices for 2025, as per the same release.
To support residents, DEP has shared strategies on their website, such as opting out of mailing lists to reduce unwanted mail, reusing gift wrap, and shopping locally to lessen the environmental impact of long-distance shipping.
For post-holiday clean-up, DEP Director Jon Monger advised, “Properly disposing of Christmas trees is an easy but meaningful way for our community to support the County’s environmental efforts and start the new year with a focus on sustainability.” Residents can drop off live trees at the Shady Grove Processing Facility or leave them curbside for recycling into mulch, as per the Montgomery County Government website.
DEP also encourages residents to plan meals thoughtfully and use durable dishes to cut down on food waste and disposables. Additionally, recycling all eligible bottles, cans, and containers is encouraged.
