Los Alamos County urges careful holiday wrapping to protect recycling

Los Alamos County on December 21 issued a community advisory asking residents to take extra care when disposing of holiday wrapping and packaging to prevent contamination of the local recycling stream. The notice clarified that only gift bags and cards made entirely of paper qualify for recycling and that any wrapping or decorations containing glitter, foil, ribbon, rope handles, or plastic shine should be placed in the trash.

County officials framed the guidance as a targeted effort to protect the efficiency and safety of the county recycling center. Contamination from mixed materials reduces the quality of collected paper, increases processing costs, and can force otherwise recyclable loads to be redirected to landfill. Those outcomes matter to taxpayers and to workers who sort and process recyclable materials.

The advisory also stressed planet friendly alternatives for future gift wrapping, suggesting reusable bags, kraft paper, and fabric as options that produce less waste and are easier to recycle. For this season, residents were advised to separate eligible 100 percent paper items from mixed materials and to discard ribbons, bows, glitter and metallic elements that can jam equipment or contaminate paper bales.

The holiday surge in packaging places particular strain on municipal services and has equity implications for the county. When contamination raises processing costs or prompts more frequent disposal trips, those expenses fall on the county budget and ultimately on residents. Lower income households and communities with fewer resources may feel the effects first if local services are scaled back or fees are adjusted to cover rising waste management costs.

Public health considerations also intersect with recycling operations. Cleaner, better sorted streams reduce exposure risks for workers who handle incoming materials and lower the chance that hazardous or non recyclable items enter local processing equipment. Keeping recyclables clean supports safe working conditions and helps preserve local environmental quality.

Residents seeking more information were directed to contact Los Alamos County Solid Waste or consult the county website for details on accepted materials and tips for reducing recycling contamination this season.