SAN CLEMENTE : Trees, Boxes Among Holiday Recyclables

For retail stores, the day after Christmas is the biggest day of the year for merchandise returns.

For waste collectors, it’s one of the busiest days of the year for picking up trash caused by the mass celebration.

In San Clemente, city officials want residents to think about recycling before bottles, decorations and wrapping paper are tossed in the trash. From Christmas trees to gift boxes, the city has a way for residents to safely dispose of holiday refuse.

For two weeks after Christmas Day, Christmas trees will be collected at curbside. Only clean trees stripped of flocking, ornaments, tree stands and nails will be accepted.

Apartment dwellers are asked to put trees next to their garbage bin, not inside the container. Trees will be taken to a composting facility where they will be ground into mulch.

Since both New Year’s Day and Christmas are on a Saturday this year, trash-collection schedules will not be changed during the holidays.

The extra waste created during the holidays can overfill the recycling containers provided by the city. Waste-management officials offer these tips:

* Gift boxes are recyclable but bulky, so collapse them whenever possible.

* Wrapping paper can be recycled, but residents are asked to remove the tape before storing in a recycling bin.

* Unless specially marked, ribbons and bows are not recyclable.

* Store and reuse smaller boxes and squash all plastic containers, such as milk cartons, to create more room.

If there is still no space left in recycling containers, either store refuse in a plastic bag for the next collection day, take material to a local recycling center or call the city waste company for a bulky item pickup.

For the location of a local recycling center or bulky item pickup, call Solag Disposal at (714) 240-0446.