As the festive season draws near, many of us eagerly unpack boxes of holiday decorations, including strings of twinkling lights that have adorned our homes for years. But what if you find a set that’s no longer working or impossibly tangled? Don’t throw them away—recycle them!
Residents can drop off old holiday lights for recycling at the City of Gainesville's Public Works offices at 405 NW 39th Avenue, through the end of January. Accepted items include strings of incandescent lights, LED lights, “icicle” lights, light wires, and attached bulbs. Please remove light casings, such as plastic candy cane shells, before bringing them in for recycling. No set of lights is too tangled for recycling!
Residents may also recycle old holiday lights year-round at any one of the Alachua County Drop-Off sites. For a complete list of drop-off locations, visit gainesvillefl.gov/WasteWizard.
Switching from old incandescent lights to new LED lights can lead to big savings on your electric bill. LED lights consume 80-90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and can last up to 100,000 hours, compared to only 3,000 hours for incandescent lights.
And remember NOT to place holiday lights in your home recycle bins.
5 Ways to Reduce Food Waste This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is all about gathering with loved ones, sharing gratitude, and, of course, enjoying a delicious feast. But with all the hearty portions and abundant side dishes, food waste often becomes an unfortunate part of the celebration.
Here are some practical tips for reducing food waste this Thanksgiving, so you can enjoy the holiday without guilt and help the planet in the process!
- Plan & Portion Thoughtfully - It’s easy to get carried away with menu planning, but a thoughtful approach to portioning can prevent excess leftovers. Plan for about 1 to 1.5 pounds of food per person, including all the main and side dishes.
- Shop Strategically - Avoid food waste before it even hits the kitchen by being mindful about your shopping. A grocery list prevents impulse buys and ensures you get only what you need. Buy seasonal produce as it is more eco-friendly and affordable.
- Get Creative with Leftovers - Leftovers are practically synonymous with Thanksgiving, but there are ways to make them feel just as special as the main meal. Repurpose dishes into soups, sandwiches, or casseroles.
- Compost What You Don’t Use - If you end up with unavoidable waste, composting is a great way to return nutrients to the soil and reduce landfill waste.
- Offer Guests Take-Home Options - Sharing leftovers with guests is a great way to reduce food waste. Have a supply of reusable containers on hand and encourage guests to take a plate home with them or ask guests ahead of time to bring their own reusable storage containers with them.
Reducing food waste is a meaningful way to honor the Thanksgiving spirit of gratitude and sharing. A little planning and creativity can make a big difference, helping you host a celebration that’s as kind to the earth as it is delicious. Share your waste reduction tips with us @ZeroWasteGNV on Facebook and Instagram.
City of Gainesville to Celebrate Compost Celebration Day 2024
The City of Gainesville and Beaten Path Compost are excited to invite residents to Compost Celebration Day 2024, a community event dedicated to honoring the power of composting and its role in reducing food waste and combating climate change.
The event will take place on Saturday, November 9, 2024 (scheduled from Oct. 12 due to storm concerns), from 9 AM to Noon at Grow HUB, located at 2900 NE 8th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32609. Composting food waste is one of the most effective ways for individuals and communities to reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and enrich our local soils. Compost Celebration Day offers attendees a chance to deepen their understanding of the process and its environmental benefits.
Event Details:
- WHEN: Saturday, November 9, 2024, 9 AM - 12 Noon
- WHERE: GrowHUB, 2900 NE 8th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32609 (Take NE 8th Ave. East until it ends)
- TOURS: Guided Tours at 9 AM, 10 AM, and 11 AM (Tour pre-registration required at https://CompostCelebrationDay2024.eventbrite.com.gov/ZeroWaste)
Beaten Path Compost staff will lead attendees on a fascinating journey from food scraps to finished compost, showcasing how this simple process can positively impact our planet. The tours are suitable for all ages, making this event a perfect family outing. Attendees are encouraged to wear flat shoes for comfort during the tour.
Whether you're an experienced composter or just starting to explore the process, Compost Celebration Day has something for everyone. In addition to the tours, there will be opportunities to learn practical composting tips, explore interactive displays, and connect with local organizations that promote sustainability.
For more information about this event, contact the City of Gainesville Zero Waste Team at waste@gainesvillefl.gov or 352-334-2330.
Come celebrate the power of compost and help our community grow greener, healthier, and more sustainable! Check for updates on our social media – @ZeroWasteGNV – on Facebook and Instagram.
41 Tons of Material Gets Rejected for Recycling Each Month in Gainesville & Alachua County
Every month, over 41 tons (or 83,000 pounds) of contaminated material ends up at our local recycling center. This includes items that either aren't accepted for recycling in the first place or recyclable items unsuitable for processing. Contamination drives up the cost of processing, as extra time and effort are needed to sort out these materials. Also, contaminants can damage sorting equipment and reduce the overall quality and market value of recyclables.
Here’s how you can help cut down on recycling contamination:
- Take a few moments to quickly review the list of materials accepted for recycling at gainesvillefl.gov/WhatCanBeRecycled.
- Don’t put food-contaminated materials in your recycle bins, such as greasy pizza boxes, donut boxes, or sticky peanut butter jars. Food residue should be rinsed out or removed from all containers before placing them in your recycle bins.
- Place your recyclables in the correct bins. Bottles & Cans go in the blue bin, and Papers go in the orange bin.
- Flatten and empty out all boxes. Foam and other plastic packaging materials are not recyclable.
By following these simple steps, we can reduce contamination and support a more sustainable recycling program for our community.
Learn more at gainesvillefl.gov/ZeroWaste, or follow us on social media – @ZeroWasteGNV on Facebook and Instagram.
Cartons Dropped from Recycling Program
As the saying goes, there's no use crying over spilled milk. However, in this case, it's the carton that has met its end, not the milk. Food and beverage cartons are no longer accepted in the curbside recycling programs of Gainesville and Alachua County. Cartons are also no longer accepted for recycling drop-off at any of the Alachua County Rural Collection Centers.
Attempts to find domestic markets capable of processing this material have been unsuccessful. Additionally, the volume of cartons collected locally has been insufficient to fill shipments before the containers become moldy, rendering them unsuitable for recycling.
The following are no longer accepted for recycling:
- Gable-top containers, such as milk, juice & egg substitute cartons
- Tetra Pak (shelf-stable) containers, such as protein drinks, broth and boxed wine
- Juice boxes
For information on what materials are accepted for recycling, visit gainesvillefl.gov/WhatCanBeRecycled, and follow @ZeroWasteGNV on Facebook and Instagram.
The Magic of the Zero Waste Wizard
Don’t know what to do with all your extra empty potion jars, broken staffs, and dusty witches’ hats lying around? Simply, visit gainesvillefl.gov/WasteWizard and ask your friendly Zero Waste Wizard to concoct a spell of responsible waste disposal!
The Zero Waste Wizard is the most reliable, up-to-date means for getting locally focused information on recycling, disposal, and reuse. City staff is constantly hitting the books at the School of Wizardry to keep the Zero Waste Wizard current, using information supplied mainly by app users like you.
In addition to answering crucial questions like “Is this recyclable?” a peek into the crystal ball will tell you everything from where to repair items, donate household goods, or find local scrap metal professionals.
While we think the Waste Wizard possesses all the answers, this Sorcerer of Sorting is also humble, so if you ask a question that doesn’t yet have an answer, you can suggest the addition of new items to the database of zero waste knowledge.
When you want to vanquish the dreaded foes of waste, clutter, and junk, the Zero Waste Wizard will cast a spell of all-knowing and all-seeing, giving you the answers you seek. In a world of darkness and uncertainty – “What do I do with all this old stuff?!” – let gainesvillefl.gov/WasteWizard light the way forward!