Johnson County Department of Health and Environment wants to wish you a Happy New Year and show you a few ways that you can help the environment during the holidays and year-round.

Holiday Lights: You no longer have to throw away your broken holiday lights. Starting in December there will be several locations accepting holiday lights for recycling. The Overland Park Recycling Center will accept them through January. Westlake Ace Hardware locations will also accept lights through January 12^th. And the Mission Sustainability Commission will be collecting lights at the Sylvester Powell Community Center and Mack’s True Value Hardware through January 17^th. Find out more information at RecycleSpot.  

Trees - Real and Fake: MRC Recycling will accept pre-lit fake trees for recycling year round. Natural trees are collected in several places around Johnson County and will find a second home as a fish habitat or mulch for a park. Johnson County Park and Recreation operates collection sites at several parks from December 26 through January 31. Overland Park will accept natural trees for recycling at several locations starting on December 26-January 9. Drop-off locations include:

• Young’s Park – 7701 Antioch
• Indian Creek Recreation Center – 10308 Marty
• Quivira Park – 11901 Quivira
• Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens – 8909 W. 179th St. (hours for Arboretum drop-off are 9 a.m-5 p.m.)

Remove the stands, lights, tinsel, ornaments, and any gifts from the tree. 

Wrapping paper and gift wrap: Recycle all of your cardboard boxes. Make sure to flatten them to save room in your recycle bin. Regular and glossy wrapping paper can be recycled in your curbside recycle bin, please remove labels if possible. Wrapping paper that has non-paper additives like metallic flakes, glitter, foil, or sequins need to go in the trash. Make sure to buy wrapping paper that is made from recycled content. 

Reuse bows, ribbons, and gift bags 

Packaging: Plastic air pillows that come inside boxes to protect the contents can be recycled at participating grocery stores along with plastic grocery bags. Plastic Amazon shipping pouches can also be recycled at these locations. Find out more information at Plastic Film Recycling. These items can't go in your curbside recycle bin but can go to certain stores where they will be recycled into new plastic bags or plastic lumber that is used to make playground equipment and park benches.

Recycling is important, but remember to reduce, reuse, and then recycle to help our planet in 2022.

If you have any other questions don’t hesitate to contact Brandon Hearn with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment or follow us on Facebook at Johnson County Recycles.