The City of Springfield is encouraging residents to consider the environment when disposing of holiday decor this year, whether it be a Christmas tree, a string of lights or wrapping paper.
The community has a number of places, from city-run recycling centers to small businesses to corporations, to reduce waste and ensure holiday decor doesn’t end up in the landfill.
“No matter whether your family chooses a live or an artificial Christmas tree, there are ways to make sustainable choices,” said Ashley Krug, the sustainability and market development coordinator for the City of Springfield. “Our general advice is: If you go live, buy local and recycle it when you’re done. If you choose artificial, plan to reuse it for as many years as you can and consider donating if it’s still in workable condition.”
The impact of the holiday season on the environment
The holiday season equates to a significant amount of additional waste: Americans throw away about 25 percent more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s period than any other time of the year, according to research from Stanford University. This equates to about 25 million extra tons of waste.
“While the winter holiday season brings good cheer for most people, it also brings a lot more solid waste to the landfill, harm to the environment and additional debt to the average American family,” the Stanford research article reads.
If the same is true this year, it will only further accelerate the predicament at the Springfield Sanitary Landfill, which is filling up faster every year. A recent expansion lengthened its lifetime but, as a limited resource, it will inevitably reach capacity.
However, recycling can help extend the landfill's life. Roughly 80 percent of what is thrown away during the holidays can be recycled, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Currently, the Springfield landfill takes about 1,000 to 1,500 tons of waste in a single day, Krug said. In the week after Christmas, they expect that number to rise at least by half, and possibly even doubling.
“We know we're going to see just a massive influx of waste going to the landfill following the holidays and lots of times that's because we're getting new things,” Krug said in an interview with the Hauxeda. “People are replacing old stuff, they're getting new stuff. But oftentimes also it's a lot of the packaging, it's a lot of the stuff that comes along with the holidays and there are better ways to think about disposing of those items.”
Where to take your Christmas trees, real or fake
The season’s largest piece of decor for most people — a Christmas tree — can pose the biggest challenge when it comes to disposal. Real or fake, there are multiple options to recycle and repurpose in the Springfield area.
For those who buy live trees and other organic decorations, there are more options to choose from:
- The City of Springfield Yardwaste Recycling Center, 3790 S. Farm Road 119, Brookline. Between Dec. 27 and Jan. 27, the facility will accept all kinds of holiday greenery from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at no charge; any other time of the year, a fee will apply. Trees will be made into wood chip mulch, which will be available to purchase at the Franklin Avenue and Lone Pine Recycling Centers.
- Bass Pro Shops, 1938 S. Campbell Ave., will accept live trees from noon to 6 p.m. on Dec. 26-31. The trees will be disposed of in Table Rock Lake, to provide habitat for fish. A fee is not required, but a donation of $10 is encouraged, which will benefit the Ozark Trails Council Boy Scouts Wa-Sha-She Lodge Order of the Arrow.
- Wickman’s Gardens, 1345 S. Fort Ave. Beginning Dec. 27, they will accept trees with a $5 fee Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Proceeds will be donated to Springfield-based nonprofit The Kitchen, which aims to provide housing and stability for individuals struggling with homelessness.
- Hansen’s Greenwaste, 3341 S. Farm Road 107, Brookline, will accept trees for free from Dec. 27 through Jan. 31. After Jan. 31, a $5 fee will be applied. They are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All of the above recycling options for live trees require tree stands, decor, or other non-organic material be removed.
Notably live trees are not accepted at the landfill, so you can't just put your tree at the curb with your regular garbage.
For artificial tree owners looking to retire their plastic pine, those options are much more limited. The city recommends the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, located at 2410 S. Scenic Ave., and the Missouri Council of the Blind Thrift Store at 2713 N. Kansas Expy.
In addition to trees, they will accept other kinds of holiday decor, including string lights that still work, as well. Only as a last choice should residents dispose of artificial trees at the landfill.
“Unfortunately, our community doesn’t have a resource for recycling artificial trees at this time, so we urge folks to maintain their trees and make an effort to use them for as many years as possible,” Krug said in a press release. “Donation is another great option if the tree is in good, working condition.”
Prevent other recyclables from making it to the landfill
Do you have sets of string lights that no longer work but you’re not sure what to do with them? Springfield has multiple options to dispose of them, all either free of charge, or very inexpensive.
All Metal Recycling, 3340 W. Division St., and Commercial Metals Company, 634 E. Phelps St., both charge 30 cents per pound. For context, an average set of string lights from Amazon, at 25 feet long with 100 bulbs, weighs less than one pound.
Free options include:
- Lowe’s, the location on 1850 E. Primrose St. only
- Complete Electronic Recycling, 2935 W. Chestnut Expy.
- Computer Recycling Center, 528 N. Prince Lane
In addition, local recycling centers will continue to accept the same products they do all year long.
Wrapping and tissue paper, cards, paperboard gift boxes, wrapping paper tubes and other forms of paper decor and gift wrapping material that isn’t precluded due to other materials (glitter, foil, etc.) should be disposed of in the paper bin at Springfield’s recycling centers.
Cardboard and rinsed plastic, glass and aluminum containers can go in their respective bins. In addition, other plastic and metal containers, also rinsed, can be recycled.
Food leftovers poses another risk to both to the landfill and, in turn, the environment. About 97 percent of food waste will end up in landfills, according to the Missouri DNR, which contributes to significant amounts of methane emissions and food waste currently represents about 14 percent of the Springfield Sanitary Landfill, according to Krug.
Both the USDA and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services have tips on how to limit food waste.
Environmental Services has a tool — Waste Wizard — where one can search by key word or phrase to determine how and where to properly dispose of something.
For more information, prospective post-holiday recyclers can reach out to the Springfield Environmental Services Recycling Hotline at 417-864-1904. The Missouri DNR also has resources available, including a list of registered electronics recycling businesses.
