The holiday season brings celebrations, decorations and time with loved ones – but also significant increase in waste. Lee County Solid Waste has some simple tips to help residents reduce their environmental footprint this season.
In Lee County, household waste typically increases by about 20% during the holiday season. From wrapping paper and empty bottles to cooking oil and decorations, the season can leave your home full of items that could be reused or recycled, but you can reduce your environmental impact through small, actionable changes at home.
Tips for this holiday season:
Don’t be a turkey! Recycle your oil:
- Never pour oil down the drain, toilet or into the garbage.
- Recycled cooking oil can be sustainably repurposed into biofuel and other beneficial products.
- Take it to the Lee County Household Chemical Waste Facility, 6441 Topaz Court in Fort Myers.
- Normal operating hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon
the first Saturday of the month.
- Please note: The county’s Household Chemical Waste and Electronics Recycling Facility will be
closed Thursday and Friday, Dec. 25 and Dec. 26, and again Thursday, Jan. 1, and Friday, Jan. 2 in observance of the holidays.
Ho! Ho! Ho! Where does the wrapping paper go:
- Flatten shipping and gift boxes before placing them in the recycling bin. Only recycle boxes that have not held liquids.
- Consider saving gift bags, boxes, tissue paper and bows to reuse for next holiday season.
- Two quick ways to check wrapping paper recyclability: Try the crumple test – if it stays crumpled, it’s recyclable; if it unfolds, it’s not.
- Tissue paper cannot be recycled and should instead be placed in the trash.
Keep the season bright, recycle your Christmas tree right:
· Live Christmas trees should be placed curbside with regular yard waste on collection day.
· To ensure proper recycling, all lights, ornaments, tinsel and stands must be removed.
· Flocked trees (artificial trees coated with a white, snow-like powder) should be disposed of in the trash.
· Once collected, the trees are processed into mulch or compost for reuse by residents.
· Free mulch is available to residents at the following five locations:
o Bonita Springs: Imperial River Boat Ramp, 27551 South Tamiami Trail
o Lehigh Acres: Lehigh Acres Park, 1400 West Fifth St.
o North Fort Myers: North Fort Myers Park, 2000 North Recreation Park Way
o Pine Island: Adjacent to the Water Treatment Plant on 6650 Masters Landing Drive, St. James City
o South Fort Myers: Three Oaks Park, 18251 Three Oaks Parkway
By downloading the Recycle Coach app, you will be able to obtain your curbside collection schedule, sign up for alerts, and quickly learn how to properly dispose of different waste materials. To download the Recycle Coach app visit www.leegov.com/solidwaste/recycle-coach.
