Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Holiday Disposal Reminders

 

CBRM's Residential Holiday Sorting Guide

 

 

During holidays or special events, large amounts of gift wrap, Styrofoam, boxes, food waste, decorations and other festive packaging get disposed of incorrectly. While celebrating any holiday or special occasion remember to dispose of your materials properly.

 

Holiday Disposal Reminders

Items and Disposal Options	Re-Use	Clear Bag (Garbage)	Containers/Plastic Blue Bag	Paper Product/Fiber Blue Bag	Green Cart (Food Waste)	Other
Gift wrap, tissue paper and other gift accessories	√			√
ALL Styrofoam packaging	√	√
Cardboard boxes  (flattened, bundled & tied not greater than 2 feet x 3 feet by 8 inches inches)	√			√
Empty cardboard tubes				√
Decorative gift boxes	√			√
Cards (non-glitter) (remove batteries from battery operated cards)	√			√
Cards (glittery) (remove batterries from battery operated cards)	√			√
Plastic packaging			√
Plastic food packaging used to seal/wrap meat, fish & poultry			√
Broken or damaged ornaments 1		√
Broken glassware 1		√
Food scraps/table scraps					√
Fireworks 2 WARNING: Do not dispose of fireworks while still hot or warm		√
Christmas tree lights		√
Computers/e-readers/video gaming systems/microwave ovens, curling irons, hair dryers, electric tooth brushes, etc. 3						√
Beverage Containers 4			√
Dairy & Dairy Substitue Cartons (Eggnog Cartons)			√
Artificial Christmas trees & Artificial wreaths						√
Gift Bags5	√			√
Ribbons & Bows	√			√

1.  Broken glass, broken or damaged ornaments and other sharp decorations should be placed inside a small box or container and labelled broken glass/sharp items before placing in the clear garbage bag.

2.  COLD firework debris can be disposed of in your clear garbage bag.  Do not dispose of used fireworks in the garbage while debris is still hot or warm.

3.  Computers, e-readers, video gaming systems, microwave ovens, radios, hair dryers, curling irons, and other electronics can be dropped-off free of charge at a local EPRA drop-off site.  For more information on the Electronics Recycling program visit www.recycleMYelectronics.ca/ns

4.  Beverage Containers can be returned to any local ENVIRO-DEPOT^TM located in CBRM or disposed of in your Container/Plastic Materials Blue Bag. For more information on the Beverage Container program visit:  https://divertns.ca/recycling/what-goes-where/beverage-container-recycling

5.  Gift bags can be placed in the blue bag you use for paper products.  Please remove handles.  The handles of the gift bag would get placed in the clear garbage bag.

Waste Management: Holiday Disposal Reminders

If you cannot reuse your holiday packaging, please dispose of it properly.  Gift wrap and wrapping paper can now be placed in the blue bag you use for paper products.

 

Holiday packaging and decorations that get placed in the clear garbage bag

• Used tape
• Damaged or broken ornaments
• Christmas lights
• Tinsel
• Garland
• Window decals

and other festive packaging or decorations that cannot be reused, should be disposed of the in the clear garbage bag for disposal.

 

Holiday packaging that gets placed in the Paper Product/Fiber Blue Bag

• Gift boxes
• Wrapping paper/Gift wrap
• Holiday cards (please remove batteries from battery operated holiday cards)
• Gift Bags (remove handles and place in the clear garbage bags)
• Gift Tags
• Decorative tissue paper
• Gift envelopes
• Paper laminate plates, blowls and cups

 

Holiday packaging that gets placed in the Containers & Plastics Blue Bag

 

• Hot & cold drink cups (remove lid before placing in blue bag)
• Ice cream containers
• Foil trays
• Tin foil (ball up tin foil/aluminium foil)
• Plastic sweet trays
• Zip lock, freezer bags & sandwich bags
• Tin containers

 

Holiday packaging that gets dropped off at a Drop-Off  Location

 

Foam Packaging

• Styrofoam meat trays
• Styrofoam take out containers
• Styrofoam plates, bowls & cups
• Styrofoam packaging

Styrofoam packaging must be empty.

Remove film wrap and absorbent pads from meat trays.

 

Flexible Plastics

• Coffee and deli pouches
• Chip  and cheesy bags
• Bubble wrap
• Candy, gum and snack wrappers
• Cereal, cookie and cracker liner bags

This packaging must be empty.

 

Aerosol Containers (Non-hazardous)

• Whip cream
• Food (cooking) sprays
• Air Freshners
• Deodorant
• Shaving cream

These containers should be empty.

Lids and caps left on.

 

Holiday Gift ideas that Reduce Waste During the Holiday Season

 

Choose gifts that reduce waste and make treasured memories.

 

Gifts to make memories

 

• Provide tickets to a concert, play or sporting event
• Gift certificates for dinner, spa treatment, haircut, oil change or nails

 

Gifts of Time

 

• Help others with a project such as painting a room, cleaning or washing down cubboards or walls, etc.
• Offer to babysit
• shovel walkway and driveway following a snowstorm
• Mow grass and/or trim hedges 
• Take them on a special outing

 

Gifts you create yourself

 

• Give homemade baked goods such as cookies, pies, cakes, fudge, etc.
• Prepare a meal.
• Give homemade crafts and gifts.

 

Donate to a special cause in their name

 

• Donate to a local charity on their behalf

 

Gift Wrap and Accessories 

 

Consider reusing giftwrap, wrapping paper or tags.  If you can not reuse these materials make sure you dispose of them properly.

Gift wrap, wrapping paper and tags can now be placed in the blue bag used for paper products/fiber. 

  

Decorations

 

Consider reusing or repurposing decorations if they have not become worn or damaged.  If they are damaged make sure you dispose of them properly.

• Decorations made of paper or cardboard with no glues or ornaments can be placed in the blue bag used for paper products.
• Decorations that contain a lot of glue, paint, or ornaments would get disposed of in the garbage. 
• Pumpkins get placed in the green cart.

 

Pumpkins & Gourds

 

Pumpkins and gourds can be placed in your green cart for collection or in a backyard composter. Please remove any decorations you used to create your pumpkin or gourd designs. If you used a candle inside the pumpkin, remove it before placing in your green cart or backyard composter.

 

  

Corn Stalks

 

Corn stalks can be disposed of in your green cart. Plastic corn stalks should be disposed of in the garbage if you can no longer reuse them.

 

 

Hay Bales

 

The hay used to make a hay bale should be gradually added to your green cart over time.  Hay bales can also be dropped off at one of the seasonal leaf and yard drop-off sites or to the Waste Management Facility's leaf and yard drop-off area open year-round.

 

 

Costumes & Masks

 

Give your costumes and masks a second chance. Donate costumes and masks still in good condition or share them with friends and family.