BALTIMORE, MD — Recycling can make the holidays even brighter! Here are a few holiday recycling hints:

Wrap gifts in recycled or reused wrapping paper
Remember to save or recycle your used wrapping paper, and to give gifts that require little packaging, such as concert tickets or gift certificates. Send greeting cards made of recycled paper to reduce the amount of virgin paper used. Don’t forget to recycle any paper cards you receive. Or send electronic greeting cards to reduce paper waste!

Use reusable shopping bags
When shopping, bring reusable bags rather than accepting a store bag for each purchase (be sure to collect your sales slips in order to verify purchases!). Reusable bags such as totes are great for small items. Choose products that have minimal packaging.

Throw a recycle-friendly party
Make your holiday party a recycling-friendly affair. At parties, use cloth napkins, reusable plates and silverware, and glass drinking cups and ceramic coffee mugs rather than disposable plastic, polystyrene, or paper. Rent party furnishings rather than buy things you will only use once. Reuse plastic containers to store holiday leftovers.

Mulch the trees
Recycle Christmas trees — chipping and mulching them makes for good compost or landscaping materials. For Baltimore City residents, tree mulching starts Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at 701 Reedbird Ave. Trees must be free of tinsel, decorations, nails, tacks or any other foreign materials. You can recycle tree trunks for firewood or split for kindling. 

Purchase rechargeable batteries
Buy rechargeable batteries to accompany your electronic gifts, and consider giving a battery charger as well. Rechargeable batteries reduce the amount of potentially harmful materials thrown away. Remember, you can dispose of batteries during household hazardous waste drop-off days. Check your 2016 DPW Calendar for dates and locations.

Buy gifts that are made of recycled materials
Check product labels to determine an item’s recyclability and whether it is made from recycled materials. Buying recycled encourages manufacturers to make more recycled-content products available.

Happy Holidays!
For more information about recycling and e-cycling in Baltimore please go to:http://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/Recycling.