Ecology Action Center is encouraging Bloomington-Normal residents to recycle things like Christmas trees, wrapping paper and old electronics as the holidays wind down. (WJBC file photo)
By Joe Ragusa
NORMAL – After the holidays, you might have a lot of leftover waste.
Michael Brown with the Ecology Action Center says now is the perfect time to think about recycling.
"There's a lot of waste that's being generated right now, and some of this is not your everyday-sort-of waste, so we just want to emphasize some of the local programs that can accept some of these more unique and seasonal items," Brown said.
Brown said wrapping paper is recyclable, but ribbons and bows should be reused or thrown in the trash. Anyone without curbside recycling should utilize recycling drop-off locations across Normal.
You may still be looking at your Christmas tree and wondering what to do with it.
Brown said those trees can be recycled.
"Specifically, when we're talking about natural, real, live Christmas trees, both Bloomington and Normal do have the means to collect those through their curbside (recycling) programs so they can be chopped up and turned into mulch," Brown said.
Brown said you need to remove any ornaments or lights from the tree before recycling it.
Those with fake trees their looking to discard should find someone else to take the tree, because otherwise the trash is the best option, Brown said.
More information and recycling tips can be found at www.ecologyactioncenter.org. Those interested in giving up their fake tree should click the "McLean County Freecycle" link on the homepage.
Joe Ragusa can be reached at joe.ragusa@cumulus.com.
