Is it compost, waste or recyclable?

On a cold, sunny day during the week before Christmas, staff are hard at work at the Green Isle recycling plant in Charlottetown. They’re bracing for the busiest week of the year.

 “A garbage man loves Christmas, but we get the blues on Boxing Day. You really can’t explain how much comes in; you have to see it to believe it.”
 - Darcy Gallant 

Gallant is the facility supervisor of Green Isle Environmental Inc. In Prince Edward Island, all trash must be sorted into one of three categories: marketable recyclable material, compost, and waste. Green Isle operates recycling facilities in Charlottetown and Summerside.

Because Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, the Green Isle trucks will be on the roads bright and early on Monday morning, Boxing Day.

What does this mean for Islanders who are trying to sort wrapping paper, seasonal decorations, cans, bottles and more?

After the frenzy of the Christmas morning has subsided and you’re pouring another coffee and starting to tackle Mount Paper, it’s a good idea to be prepared. Have on hand a large paper bag for compost, a clear bag for waste, a blue one for recyclables, and a bag or bin for gift bags and ribbons you want to hang onto and use again.

Tips for sorting waste

Christmas cards, wrapping paper, boxes, etc

• Wrapping paper usually goes in compost (don’t worry about a little bit of tape) but foil paper goes in waste.
• Boxboard (gift boxes, etc.) goes in compost, not recyclable.
• Corrugated cardboard boxes are recyclable.
• Styrofoam, bows and ribbons are waste.
• Greeting cards are usually compost, but go in waste if they have plastic on them.
• Envelopes are usally paper (recyclable), unless foil lined. If so, they are waste.

Batteries

• Those cute musical greeting cards actually have batteries, so remove the batteries to properly dispose of them (Look for a Restore Your Batteries bin at grocery stores or a Waste Watch Drop-Off Center).  
• As a matter of fact, any old or not working electronics and used batteries can be dropped off a Waste Watch Drop-Off Center for free disposal.
• Did you know you should tape over the ends of lithium, lithium-Ion and small sealed lead acid batteries or individually bag each of these batteries?  This helps prevent a potential fire hazard.

Waste Watch Drop-Off Centers are located in Brockton, New London, Dingwell Mills, Charlottetown and Murray River.

January 9 to 14 is Christmas tree collection week

• Place your tree (the one that you’ve been diligently watering) curbside by Monday, January 9. 
• Before you drag your tree to the curb, remove all ornaments. Don’t bag it (unless it’s a compostable bag). If it’s taller than eight feet, you will need to cut it up into smaller chunks.
• Throughout the month of January, Christmas trees may be dropped off to any Waste Watch Drop-Off Center at no charge.
• Wreaths, even those made from living branches, are waste unless they are dismantled. If dismantled the greenery can go in compost and the metal ring in blue bag #2 for recycling (or better yet, save it to use another year).

Odds and ends

• The wooden crates that those tasty little clementine oranges come in? They are waste, not compost.
• Tin foil plates from meat pies, tarts and pies are recyclable.
• Residential recyclables, waste and compost collections are not impacted by the holiday season so remember to put blue bags or compost/waste carts curbside on normal collection days.