How & Where to Recycle Specific Materials

Holiday Materials

Christmas trees and wreaths that are free of ornaments, wire and tinsel can be ground along with other brush into wood chips. Eau Claire County and the City of Eau Claire jointly sponsor Merry Mulch, which permits residents to dispose of clean Christmas tees at Carson Park. The collection starts the days following Christmas and runs through mid-January, it is open during daylight hours.

Christmas lights can be recycled at Alter Metal Recycling, located at: 3532 White Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54703  (715) 832-3431

Greeting cards can often be reused. The front flap can be cut and used as a post card or folded into gift boxes for small items such as jewelry.  A template for creating these boxes can be found at: 

 http://www.allfreecrafts.com/recycling-crafts/greeting-card-box.shtml

Most greeting cards can be recycled along with other paper.  However, cards which have embossed foil or other additives, and those which are really photographs with messages printed on them, should be thrown away.

Most gift wrapping paper should not be recycled.  There are two alternatives to using traditional gift wrap paper that are more recyclable.  

1) If the gift is for a young child, wrap it in the Sunday comics from the newspaper.  For young children, the paper is colorful and fun.  

2) If you have children in the family, get an end-roll of newsprint from the local newspaper.  Newspapers either give them away or sell them for very little cost.  Using water soluble paints, make your own wrapping paper.  There are four benefits.  First, it is an excellent family project that can be fun and rewarding for both parents and children.  Two, making your own gift wrap is much less expensive.  Three, most people who receive such wrapped present appreciate the uniqueness of the gift wrap.  Four, the wrapping paper is fully recyclable.