3 Tips for Recycling During the Holidays

The holiday season is upon us, meaning our weekends will be packed with many celebrations, decorations and gifts piling up under our Christmas trees.

This might get you wondering what to do with all these empty beverage containers after festivities, old Christmas lights or even large appliances you no longer need as you get your new gifts.

Well, wonder no more! Keep on reading to learn how you can manage your clutter and find out how you can profit (yes, you heard that right!) by recycling your empty beverage containers after you are done with celebrations.

Let’s get started!

Handling Your Holiday Clutter

Celebrating with less waste is possible, and as we have mentioned earlier, you can even earn an extra buck for recycling.

Curious to find out how it works? It’s actually quite simple!

Bring Your Beverage Containers Back to Return-It

In British Columbia, you are charged a 10-cent deposit for every beverage container that is part of the deposit system. This includes bag-in-a-box, your favourite orange juice, water bottles and many more container types.

What’s more, Return-It makes the process quick and easy, allowing you to drop off your empties together in one bag — no need to sort or count your containers. With their Express program, you just bag the beverage containers and drop them off at an Express Depot.

So, imagine how many empty beverage containers you are going to end up with once you are done with your celebrations. With a 10-cent refund per each beverage container part of the Return-It system, it’s also easy to estimate how much your total refund will be. With the accumulated deposit refunds you can use this to buy some extra gifts for your loved ones.

Got Old Electronics? Recycle Them at Return-It Electronics

Another item you might end up with during Holidays are old electronics.

During the holidays, we always see an influx of battery-powered toys, gaming consoles, computer peripherals and other electronic devices, which reminds us it’s finally time to get rid of the old stuff.

Luckily, it’s simple in BC. Return-It, on behalf of EPRA, manages a consumer-friendly and cost-effective system to recover regulated electronic products from consumers and ensure that they are recycled in a safe and environmentally sound manner. This way they are not landfilled or shipped to developing nations.

In British Columbia, there are many convenient locations where you can return and recycle old electronics. To find a location near you, visit Return-It Electronics locations and type in your postal code or city to find a drop-off site. Easy as that!

For a detailed list of electronics you can return, visit Return-It Electronics Products.

Thinking Big? Recycle Your Large Appliances

There is currently a robust market-based recycling system for end-of-life major appliances in British Columbia.

The Major Appliances Recycling Roundtable, also known as MARR, is a not-for-profit stewardship agency created to implement and operate a stewardship plan for end-of-life major household appliances in the province of British Columbia.

By using this program, you can recycle 18 different types of large residential appliances free of charge.

So, if you have that dead freezer sitting in your garage for a while, now is a perfect time to recycle it.

To find a location near you, visit Return-It Large Appliances locations.

Recycling During the Holidays is Possible

There you have it! 3 recycling tips for a more earth-friendly holiday season.

When celebrations approach, we swirl in a stream of planning, purchasing gifts and celebrating Holidays, but there are ways to reduce our impact and recycle our waste.

Returning your beverage containers and recycling old electronics and large appliances are three simple yet impactful ways to cut down on holiday waste.

So next time you are hosting a dinner or unpacking your dream gift under the Christmas tree, remember you can recycle for a greener future.

Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!