Are you already putting up your fall décor? Us too! What a perfect time to explain the do’s and don’ts of recycling during this fall season. Now, we do love advocating for recycling… obviously; however, some of our tips today will include repurposing your items as well! Let’s get started!
The Pumpkin Massacre
Everyone loves a good carved pumpkin. What they don’t love is the old pumpkin sitting (More like melting) on your front porch begging to be thrown out. In case you’ve ever wondered what to do with your old pumpkins, other than throwing them away, try one of these:
- Bury it! (Spooky) The pumpkin will decompose and feed the soil of Mama Earth!
- Leave it outside and feed your local animals. Just make sure your pumpkins are not painted or contain any harmful/toxic materials. Once the pumpkin has begun rotting, remove it from outside so the animals aren’t eating a rotten pumpkin (Yuck).
- Remove the seeds and roast them! It makes for the perfect daily snack!
When in doubt, you can always call your local recycler or even sometimes the zoo to see if they take pumpkins for donation/repurpose!
Spooky Scary Skeletons
Do you have fake skeletons lying around? I mean, it’s almost Halloween after all! If you’re looking to get rid of any old (No pun intended) skeletons, or any fall décor made of that type of plastic, try going to a Goodwill or a donation place first! Even though these types of materials aren’t recyclable, donating them for repurposing is much better than throwing them right in the trash! Even skeletons deserve a second life!
The “Faux” of fall
Faux flower arrangements, although beautiful, are typically not recyclable. Most people will say, “Just throw them in your garbage can”. But we’re not most people! If they’re still in good condition, take them to your local donation center or resell them! Flower arrangements never go out of style, and even if you don’t love yours anymore, someone out there will!
Metal on Metal
If you’re going for the “rustic look” you probably have a lot of metal pieces within your décor. Whether that’s a blanket basket, a few fake pumpkins, or some metal signs. Good news, metal is recyclable! Take it to your local recycler and dispose of it properly!
Candles from the Secret Lair
Unless you’re only using candle sticks around your house, most of us have a few candles lying around either to burn or just because they look pretty. Once your candle is completely used up, take out any excess wax that may be stuck to the bottom and reuse the container! Whether it’s for a small storage jar, Tupperware, or even your iced coffees! Glass jars are great for repurposing! Just make sure to thoroughly clean out the jar before you put your coffee in it. Pumpkin spice candles do not taste as good as they smell!
When in doubt, call around
Some businessed will run seasonal deals and allow you to recycle things that normally aren’t taken (ex. Christmas trees, pumpkins, décor, etc.). If your #1 goal is to recycle your items, try calling your local recyclers and see if they’ll take anything. It never hurts to ask! If they can’t, then donating or selling for repurpose is always an acceptable choice!
Thank you for joining us today! If you have any questions, please give us a call at 952-894-1448, we’re always here to help! We’ll catch you next time- happy recycling!
