Before you know it, the gifts will be opened, the tree will be down and all you're left with are cardboard boxes and wrapping paper shreds. Yes, Christmas leaves just as quickly as it arrives. The Linn County Solid Waste Agency has some tips to make clean-up as easy as possible.

You can recycle your old Christmas lights at the County Home Road location for free. They are NOT accepted curbside. Also, don't try to recycle your wrapping paper. Because of the sheen on many papers and other decorations they can't be recycled. Throw it away!

If you want to recycle batteries, it depends on the type. Common alkaline batteries like AA, AAA, D, C, and 9 volt can be thrown away as they don't include any hazardous materials. Rechargeable, lead-lithium, and car batteries can be recycled from free at the County Home Road locations.

Finally, what do you do with the gorgeous real tree in your living room? You can take it to either Solid Waste Agency location and recycle it there for a $5 fee. You can also check with your garbage collection service to see if they collect trees curbside. They may have rules you have to follow. Flocked trees are considered as garbage.

 

[via KCRG]

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