The holidays are here and Dartmouth’s Department of Public Works is reminding residents to recycle packaging and other materials this season.

According to a statement from the DPW, around 25% more waste than usual is produced during the holidays.

"When sharing gifts this holiday season, please make room for the new by donating, selling, or recycling items you no longer need,” stated David Hickox, Director of Public Works. “The reuse or recycling of items will save valuable landfill space. And as important, please remember to only place the correct materials in recycling carts to keep the recycling program running efficiently.” 

Here are a few tips from the DPW to help ensure holiday waste ends up in the right place:

Packaging

Cardboard: Empty and flatten boxes (cut if necessary); place in black lid recycling cart.

Take large boxes to the Dartmouth Transfer Station. Recycle empty pizza boxes — studies show that grease on the box is okay for recycling (food is not, so remove all pizza). Liners and plastic pizza savers go in the trash.

Wrapping paper is not recyclable. If you want to be able to recycle your gift wrap, use newspaper, grocery store flyers, paper bags, or reuse packaging paper (or buy a roll). Give gifts in reusable bags, jars, or tins.

Bows, ribbons, and string cannot be recycled; reuse when possible.

Place cardboard boxes, gift boxes, greeting cards (no metallic inks, foil, batteries, or glitter), catalogs, and other clean paper in the black lid cart. Place empty bottles, cans, jugs, and jars in the gray lid cart.

Styrofoam blocks and string lights: Clean styrofoam blocks can be recycled at the Dartmouth Transfer Station, 976 Russells Mills Road, open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Permit required.

String lights can be placed in the designated cart at the transfer station until January 30, 2021. These items do not belong in the curbside recycling carts.

Sustainable gifts: Consider environmentally friendly gifts such as experiences (online music or dance lessons), gift cards, products made of recyclable material, reusable items, or handmade presents.

Christmas trees

Collection: For SMART Program participants, real Christmas trees are scheduled to be picked up on the same day as solid waste (separate truck) the weeks of Jan. 4 and Jan. 11. Collection begins at 7 a.m.

Remove all ornaments, stands, lights, and tinsel. Do not place trees in plastic bags. This schedule is subject to change with unforeseen weather conditions.

Drop-off: Dartmouth residents may drop off real Christmas trees at the brush area located at the Department of Public Works/Water Pollution Control Facility, 759 Russells Mills Road, Dartmouth.

The hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. and Saturday 7:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. A Transfer Station sticker is required. Closed Christmas and New Year’s Day.

For additional tips, visit the Dartmouth Recycling Facebook page. Contact the recycling office by phone at (774) 503-0254 or by email at Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org for more information.