Don't take a holiday from recycling: A guide for recycling this gifting season

SAN DIEGO COUNTY – What comes to mind when thinking of the holidays? Perhaps it’s family, friends, decorations, music, food and gifts. Unfortunately, what comes with many holiday traditions is a spike in waste.

Whether it be shopping bags, packaging, gift wrap, or food scraps, Americans generate 25% more waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day than during the rest of the year. This equates to an extra one million tons of waste generation per week nationwide during the holidays.

Increases in online shopping this year will exponentially contribute to the waste stream. However, much of this...