Mike Wolanin | The Republic Recyclable electronics are pile up in front of the Cummins Engine Plant during the annual Cummins Community-Wide Recycle Day in Columbus, Ind., Thursday, June 13, 2019.
Beginning Thursday, many Bartholomew County residents will prepare to recycle what they can of their Christmas remnants.
While some holiday items are accepted by the Columbus/Bartholomew Recycling Center, supervisor Dan Sutton says others may have to be tossed out.
For example, live Christmas trees can be taken to the yard waste site at the recycling center, located at 720 S. Mapleton Street to be recycled into mulch. Those who live in Columbus have the convenience of taking their live trees to the the curb to be picked up.
But Sutton said his facility has no way of recycling ribbons, bows, foil or shiny paper. Decorations and tree stands are also not recyclable, according to the center’s website. Only strands of Christmas lights are accepted for recycling, the website states.
In recent years, Christmas tree sales have shrunk as consumers started cutting back on discretionary spending. A recent research report by Freedonia Group found that demand for Christmas trees in the U.S. is projected to decline an average of 1.5% annually through 2028.
But there are several traditionalists in Bartholomew County who don’t want an artificial tree.
“The number of (recycled Christmas trees) has gone down a little bit, but not much at all,” Sutton said.
Electronics are always among the top Christmas gifts given in recent years, but outdated and broken electronics need to be moved out of the say to make room for the new items.
Local residents are reminded they can recycle old electronics at either the recycling center or the Bartholomew County Landfill, located at 811 East County Road 450S in the Walesboro area.
For the Solid Waste Management District, finding a vendor who accepts electronics is a “hit-or-miss” propositions for most communities, Sutton said. But Smurfit WestRock Recycling in Indianapolis has been the district’s vendor for over ten years and has been good to work with as a recycling partner, he said.
But due to components that cannot go into a landfill, there is still a $20 fee for accepting computer monitors and televisions, the district’s website states.
While closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, the recycling center is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
