Give environment a gift; recycle your holiday paper

Is it going to snow? I’m sure half of the people reading this are upset I even mention it, for the possibility of jinxing our snowless days.

The other half of the readers are probably more than ready to walk outside and see a white and fluffy vista, laced with decorative, shimmering lights.

No matter what side you are on, we can all agree that this time of year brings excessive waste. Packaging of products is a big contributor to plastic solid waste, whether or not the actual product contains plastic.

Try to be conscience of this factor when purchasing items. Wrapping paper is another waste contributor that can be reduced with a little thought. I personally have always liked my wrapping paper to be the Sunday comics out of the newspaper.

Starting Dec. 28 and through Jan. 16, residents can bring their gift wrap waste to the Columbus/Bartholomew Recycling Center, 720 S. Mapleton St. The gift wrap cannot be shiny or foil paper and needs to be free of all bows and ribbons.

This can be dropped off along with your other recyclables during normal drive-thru recycling hours, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

We also will be accepting live Christmas trees. Your old trees can be recycled at the Columbus/Bartholomew County Yard Waste Site, located just behind the Recycling Center. Trees need to be free of all decorations, including lights, ornaments and tinsel.

These also will be accepted Dec. 28 through Jan. 16. Christmas trees will be recycled into mulch, which is offered at the yard waste site free of charge to Bartholomew County residents.

Please note that solid waste district facilities will be closed on the following dates:

Offices and Columbus/Bartholomew Recycling Center: Dec. 24, 25 and 31 and Jan. 1

Bartholomew County Landfill: Dec. 24 (closes at 1 p.m.), Dec. 25 and Jan. 1

The district staff would like to wish you and your family a happy holiday season.

For more information you can visit our website at bcswmd.com or our Facebook page by searching for Bartholomew County Solid Waste District.