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Giving and sharing during the holiday season can add up to additional waste in our homes.?The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the volume of household waste increases by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. That's about one million extra tons sent to landfills across the country each week!
Consider making a few changes to reduce waste and save room in your cart. Here are five tips to prevent and manage extra waste this holiday season.
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 Treecycle your holiday tree
Take your fresh tree to a local tree recycling site when you're done enjoying it. Many sites are free, and some act as fundraisers for youth sports and activities. Search our list to find one near you.
Discover the new waste wizard
Kitsap County's new waste wizard tool can help you find the best way to dispose of unwanted items from your home. Simply type in the name of an item, and the wizard will tell you how to recycle or dispose of it. It also provides tips on donating, reusing and composting, so you can be even more environmentally friendly.
 Fix and recycle string lights
If sections of your holiday lights aren't working, it's usually caused by a single bad bulb. You can fix it if you have spare bulbs and a multimeter tool on hand. Search online to learn how.
If your lights are beyond repair, recycle them at a scrap metal drop-off site. Search the wizard to find a list. Some local hardware stores also collect lights during the holidays.
 Recycle Right
Do your visiting in-laws seem to struggle with recycling? Help them out this holiday season with the Kitsap Recycle Right guide. Print versions are available online and at waste facilities.
If you have recyclables that don?t fit in your bin, you can take them to a county waste facility for no charge. You can also ask your waste hauler if you can place extras next to your bin in a weatherproof container.
   Save the food
Washington aims to reduce food in landfills by 50% by 2050, and you can help!
Starting January 1, 2024, South Kitsap residents will be able to subscribe to curbside compost services for food and yard waste. This convenient service is already available to most of Kitsap County.
Enter your address into our compost map to see if you are eligible for this service.
When food is wasted, so are the resources and labor used to grow, harvest, process, transport and manage the food from farm to table. Food waste is a massive issue, with considerable environmental, social and economic consequences.
Make the most of your food this holiday season
If you're looking for ways to reduce food waste this holiday season or places to donate edible food before it's wasted, check out?Food: Too Good to Waste (kitsap.gov).?You'll find smart shopping tips, storage guidance, advice on food safety and preservation resources too.
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