As more Americans embrace online shopping this holiday season, many households are greeted with piles of cardboard boxes and paper packaging. This trend can be great for recycling if done right. Over 82% of shoppers are opting for home delivery this year, and Black Friday online sales are expected to top $11 billion for the first time. Plus, food deliveries are booming, with Thanksgiving Eve now one of the busiest nights for pizza orders.
With all this packaging, it’s a perfect time to focus on recycling. Paper and cardboard are among the most recycled materials in the U.S., but it’s important to sort them properly. Recycling starts at home. Families can help by making sure their cardboard boxes and paper packaging are clean, dry, and free of non-paper materials. This includes items like shipping boxes, paper mailers, and even pizza boxes. Contrary to popular belief, pizza boxes can be recycled unless they’re soaked with grease or food.
When it comes to holiday recycling, some decorations and wrappings should go in the trash instead of the recycling bin. Wrapping paper with shiny finishes, tissue paper, bows, ribbons, and glittery cards can contaminate clean paper streams.
To stay eco-friendly this season, here are a few easy tips: flatten and break down boxes, remove plastic liners and tape, keep paper and cardboard clean and dry, and check local recycling rules. With more packages and pizza boxes arriving at homes, recycling correctly is a simple way to help the planet this holiday season. Small changes can lead to big environmental benefits. For more tips on recycling, check out resources online.
