The City of Edmonton is asking residents to take a moment to think about what goes where this holiday season. With that in mind, I’d like to introduce you to Dave Claus: the Spirit of Holiday Waste.

Dave Claus wants us all to remember: “trash in the trash, paper in the blue bag, electronics to the Eco Station.” Following this simple message will help keep the Edmonton Waste Management Centre’s sorting facilities running smoothly so that it can process the extra material that comes in around the holidays.

Dave Claus loves the holidays but he wants us to remember it’s all about family, friends and taking care of your trash.

Tip floor of the Material Recovery Facility at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre (recycling is sorted). In January last year, residents disposed of 1000 more tonnes of recycling than in February.

Alyson W holds up a few items that do not belong in recycling. Foil wrap should be reused or thrown in the garbage and electronic decorations belong at the Eco Station.

How to Clean-Up After the Holidays

For a lot of us, the holidays mean extra waste. It’s important to put those waste items in the right place to ensure the waste management system continues to run efficiently. Use the What Goes Where Poster to look up what items belong in the garbage, recycling, and Eco Station.

When it comes to those holiday-specific items, here are a few simple tips to keep in mind:

Take anything with a cord or battery to the Eco Station – this includes Christmas lights and decorations
Most wrapping paper is recyclable – the only exception is metallic paper
Cardboard is recyclable, just empty and flatten the box

Donate items in good shape

If you have items that are still in good shape, but which you no longer need, consider donating them for reuse. Search the Reuse Directory to find organizations that will accept the item you’re disposing of.

Alyson shows us the amount of wrapping paper recycled over the holidays. Most wrapping paper is recyclable - the only exception is metallic paper — Alyson shows us the amount of wrapping paper recycled over the holidays. Most wrapping paper is recyclable – the only exception is metallic paper

I absolutely adore many things about the holidays. The music, feasts and beautiful sweaters are amazing. By being aware of the extra waste we create as we enjoy the holiday season, and knowing what goes where, we can ensure that Edmonton’s waste is disposed of as efficiently and environmentally-responsibly as the rest of the year.

For holiday waste reduction tips:

edmonton.ca/wastelessholidays

#wastelessholidays