As the festive season rolls into Round Rock, expect some shifts in your regular waste management routine. The city has announced alterations to the trash and recycling pickup schedule for the Christmas and New Year's holidays, as reported by Round Rock's official website. Residents should note that trash and recycling pickup services provided by Central Texas Refuse will be delayed by a day. This lag in service is in observance of the holiday season, with city offices closing their doors on Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1.
In the same statement, the city has cast out reminders, and some might say life hacks, for keeping the holiday celebrations environmentally friendly. Cardboard from all that online shopping should be broken down to fit into recycling bins, and for the love of the planet, keep Styrofoam out of the curbside bins. Food containers are mostly welcome in the recycling journey, but only if they are free from food contamination and if their non-recyclable components have been detached. Glass, with certain caveats, has been given the green light at the City’s Recycling Center, just make sure it's not broken, and it has been cleaned.
The city didn't wrap up without addressing wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows; a source of much holiday waste. They're firm on this: glittery or foil-adorned wrapping paper can't be recycled, and neither can bows and ribbons. These should go out with the regular trash. And while dreaming of a white Christmas is fine, dreaming of a green one is better – so remember to drop off non-working or unneeded holiday lights at designated sites within Round Rock, but not in your curbside recycling bin.
Tree huggers can still show love for their now tired Christmas trees post-festivities by recycling them at the Round Rock Brush Recycling Center. It's a chance for these trees to turn a new leaf, so to speak, as they will be mulched. Residents can return to the center to claim some mulch for their own gardens, at no charge. However, it's worth stripping the trees of all their festive garb before handing them over for recycling – no decorations, no wires, just the tree in its natural glory. Hours for the Brush Recycling Center – and the adjacent Recycling Center for other items – can be found on the aforementioned municipal holiday heads-up.
For a comprehensive list that goes beyond the holiday periods, check out the Round Rock City web page. There you'll find not just the adjusted holiday hours, but also a guideline for eco-friendly waste disposal throughout the year. So this holiday season, be merry, be bright, and let's be kind to the environment – it's the gift that keeps on giving.
