The presents are unwrapped, the plates are cleared — and the mountain of cardboard, lights, batteries and leftover food suddenly looks a lot less cheerful.
Americans produce roughly 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than at other times of year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That spike doesn’t have to mean more landfill: with a few quick checks and a bit of sorting, much of that post-holiday clutter can be repurposed, donated or properly recycled.
Start with a quick sort
Before you toss everything into one bin, pause for two minutes and separate into piles: cardboard and paper, gift wrap and cards, plastics and film, lights and cords, electronics, batteries, food scraps, and the tree. Local rules vary wildly — what goes in curbside recycling in one town may be trash in the next — so check your municipality’s guidance first. If you want a reliable national reference for drop-off options, Earth911 and the EPA’s recycling pages are good starting points (EPA recycling basics).
Cardboard: Break it down and flatten it. Big boxes take up less room and are easier for collectors when squashed and bundled. If you do online returns or plan to store seasonal items, reusing sturdy boxes is a win.
Wrapping paper and cards: Use the “scrunch test” — if the paper stays wrinkled when you squeeze it into a ball, it’s likely plain paper and recyclable. If it snaps back, it probably contains foil, glitter, or plastic and belongs in the trash (or the reuse pile for gift tags). Bows, ribbons and tissue paper generally are not curbside recyclables.
Lights, cords and small electronics — don’t put them in regular recycling
Strings of lights and any tangled cords can jam sorting machines and create hazards for workers. Never drop lights into your curbside bin. Many big retailers and local hardware stores run take-back programs for holiday lights. For plastic film and bubble wrap, check store drop-off points listed on plasticfilmrecycling.org.
Electronics: If that new gadget still works, donate it or pass it to someone who’ll use it. Broken devices often contain batteries and materials best handled at electronics-recycling centers. For repair-minded buyers and longer-lived phones, companies focused on repairability are worth a look — the market for repairable gear is growing, including more mainstream options and repair-friendly brands like Fairphone [/news/fairphone-us-entry].
If you’re replacing a laptop or thinking of gifting one next season, consider durability and repairability — or sell/rehab the old device. You can also trade in used models of popular laptops like the MacBook if you choose to upgrade."
Batteries: the dangerous little things
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries — the kind inside most modern phones, power tools and many newer toys — can spark fires if crushed or punctured during collection or processing. That’s not hypothetical: waste facilities report fires started by loose lithium cells.
Do not put rechargeable batteries or devices containing them in curbside trash or recycling. Take them to a designated household hazardous waste or battery take-back location; your local solid-waste authority can point you to options. The EPA has guidance on safe disposal of household batteries and hazardous waste at its recycling portal.
Single-use alkaline batteries are generally safe for regular trash in many areas, but check local rules; some communities collect them separately.
Trees and food waste: give them a second life
Natural Christmas trees are surprisingly useful after the holidays. Some coastal towns use trees to stabilize dunes; others turn them into mulch or habitat structures for wildlife. If you have a yard, cut the tree into manageable pieces for composting or use as erosion control. Check your town’s tree-collection program before dragging your tree to a drop-off — many cities offer curbside pickup in early January.
Leftovers and food scraps are prime candidates for composting rather than landfill. Home compost bins handle most vegetable matter; municipal or commercial composting programs can take meat, bones and dairy that backyard piles can’t safely process. Community drop-off services and curbside organics collection are increasingly common and help divert up to 40% of household waste by weight.
When in doubt, reuse or donate
Some items are better reused than recycled. Gift bags, sturdy boxes and shipping materials can be folded and stored for next year. Old but functioning electronics, seasonal decor and gently used toys can be donated to local charities.
If you’re downsizing after the holidays, use those empty boxes as organizers — it’s practical and keeps cardboard out of the waste stream. And if you’re into gaming gear that’s taking up closet space, remember streaming and cloud services (like recent advances for PlayStation’s ecosystem) can change what you keep and what you sell [/news/playstation-portal-cloud-streaming-update].
Avoid “wishcycling” — it rarely helps
Tossing uncertain items into recycling out of guilt — “wishcycling” — can contaminate an entire load and do more harm than throwing a non-recyclable item in the trash. If you’re not sure, look it up on Earth911 or your town’s website. When something truly can’t be recycled, reuse it creatively or at least dispose of it responsibly.
Two small habits make a big difference: think before you buy next year (fewer, better things) and spend a few extra minutes sorting now. The post-holiday cleanup needn’t be a landfill-length regret. With a little planning — and by keeping batteries and lights out of curbside bins — you can start the new year with less clutter and a lot less waste.