Metro offers these tips for recyling Christmas trees and wreaths.
Included is a link to non-profit groups offering the service and contact if you run a non-profit that wants to be on the list. Routine curbside yard debris recyling is also an alternative. The guide also includes how to property strip the tree of decorations.
Metro provides these overall guidelines for recycling all holiday-related trash:
Wrapping paper, cards and boxes that are 100 percent paper can be recycled in curbside bins. Do not put foil, plastic coating and glitter into recycle bins. Plastic bottles, jars, tubs and buckets are the only plastics that you can recycle at home.
A number of depots accept film-type plastics such as bubble wrap, sheet foam, plastic bags and shrink wrap for recycling. Packing peanuts and bubble wrap can be taken to a shipping store for reuse. There are even a handful of options for blocks of packaging foam packing.
If Christmas lights no longer work or are no longer needed, there are a few locations where light strings can be dropped off for recycling. Through Jan. 3, the Oregon Zoo will collect light strings at the Zoo Store, with plans to recycle them after the holidays. Visitors who drop off their old holiday lights at the zoo will receive a coupon for a free piece of fudge in the Zoo Store.
Save other non-recyclable items for reuse next year. Save packing peanuts and bubble wrap for shipping gifts in the future.
Still have questions? Call the Metro Recycling Information hotline at 503-234-3000, Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m.. to 5 p.m.
