Portland has one of the highest household participation recycling rates in the Coastal Bend, and December typically has the highest volume of recycle collection of the year. With product packaging, Christmas paper, and other holiday-related materials, that makes sense. It also makes it more important than ever that residents follow recycling guidelines about what is acceptable and what is not. For instance, Christmas wrapping paper is acceptable, but any accompanying ribbon is not. Ribbon, or worse yet, strings of Christmas lights or tinsel, can do damage to the sorting machinery—causing breakdowns, delays, and extra expense. Keep them in the trash.
Other recyclable items include: newspapers, cardboard (flattened to less than two square feet), magazines, paperboard boxes (like cereal boxes and shoeboxes), and unwanted mail and envelopes. Acceptable metal items include aerosol spray cans, aluminum trays, beverage cans, food containers, and soft drink cans. Recyclable plastics include: detergent containers, food containers marked with a recycling symbol. Glass is not accepted for recycle.