As the festive season wraps up, Montgomery County is pushing for residents to keep sustainability top of mind. According to a recent announcement by the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, there is a 25% uptick in household waste from Thanksgiving through New Year's—thanks in part to the disposal of wrapping paper, product packaging, food leftovers, and holiday decor.
In a positive effort to curb this waste, the DEP is asking locals to embrace habits that could benefit the environment. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich was quoted in a recent publication, "The holiday season is a time for giving and one of the most meaningful gifts we can offer is something that leads to a healthier planet." He further encouraged residents by stating, "By making small, intentional choices like reducing waste and recycling correctly, we all play a part in building a more sustainable Montgomery County."
Here are some practical tips recommended by the DEP: get crafty with gift-wrapping by using repurposed fabrics or papers, tackle junk mail by unsubscribing from unwanted lists, lean towards eco-friendly meal planning, and make sure to recycle cardboard boxes from all those shipped packages. Moreover, during your holiday shopping, choose local businesses and products with minimal packaging, and always bring along reusable bags.
For post-holiday cleanup, residents are encouraged to recycle their live Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands. According to the DEP, live-cut trees can be dropped off at the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station or can be set curbside for yard trim recycling collection. And don't forget about those old string lights—these, along with other e-waste, can be dropped off or scheduled for pickup if you're a single-family household with county-provided recycling service. Artificial trees aren't recyclable, but they can be donated or picked up as bulk trash, depending on your specific service.
It's a community-wide effort to reduce waste and recycle more, and every bit helps. Whether you're turning down the junk mail or setting up your live tree for recycling, these actions contribute to a bigger picture—a more sustainable Montgomery County. So let's join in and make sure these green practices last well into the new year and beyond.
