The holidays are nearly here, and with them gifts, good times and… Garbage! Read on for everything you need to know about changes in collection schedules, recycling common holiday items, and what to do with weird winter wastes.
Curbside Collection and Office Closures Over the Holidays
Live in unincorporated Palm Beach County? There are only two observed holidays during which there is no garbage service and all SWA facilities are closed: Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 24, 2015) and Christmas Day (Friday, Dec. 25, 2015).
There will be normal scheduled collection services for unincorporated residents on the following holidays. But, SWA Administration will be closed:
- Christmas Eve - Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015
- New Year's Eve - Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015
- New Year’s Day - Friday, Jan. 1, 2016
Live in one of Palm Beach County’s 38 municipalities? Contact your municipality directly for their holiday collection schedule. A list of municipal contacts can be found online.
More information can also be found online related to:
Resolve to Recycle
Many of us celebrate the values we hold most dear at this time of year. Thank you for making Recycling Right a part of your holidays.
Many food and drink containers can be recycled in your Blue recycling bin, including:
- Plastic bottles and containers, except Styrofoam
- Aluminum, tin and steel cans
- Cartons, such as those for milk, juice boxes, chicken broth, etc.
- Glass bottles and jars
The Yellow bin is the place for all fiber, including:
- Flattened cardboard boxes, including gift boxes
- Greeting cards and wrapping paper that have no ribbons, foil or other non-paper items
- Paperboard food boxes, cereal boxes and paper towel rolls
- Newspaper, office paper, junk mail, paperback books, magazines, etc.
Thank you for not placing these items in your Blue or Yellow bins:
- Plastic bags, film or shrink wrap (they hurt our recycling equipment)
- Gift bags, tissue paper, ribbons or bows (throw those in the trash)
- Disposable plates and silverware (the food stains make them not recyclable)
- Grease stained pizza boxes (throw those in the trash)
- Napkins or paper towels
- Drink pouches
- Air filters
For more information about Recycling Right, or to order new recycling bins, call 866-NEW-BINS (866-639-2467) or visit SWA.org/RecycleRight.
Recycling Electronics and Disposing of Home Chemicals
If your family is fortunate enough to upgrade their electronics over the holidays, the outdated devices can be taken to any of the Solid Waste Authority’s Home Chemical and Recycling Centers (HCRCs). The seven Home Chemical and Recycling Centers and their hours are:
- Belle Glade (unattended)
Glades Regional Transfer Station
1701 State Road 15 in Belle Glade
Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday: Closed
- Delray Beach – West
Southwest County Transfer Station
13400 South State Road 7 in Delray Beach
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Saturday is self-serve drop-off containers only)
- Delray Beach – East (unattended)
South County Transfer Station
1901 SW 4th Ave. in Delray Beach
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Jupiter (unattended)
North County Transfer Station
14185 Military Trail (SWA Road) in Jupiter
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Lantana (unattended)
Central County Transfer Station
1810 Lantana Road in LantanaMonday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 12 p.m.- Royal Palm Beach (unattended)
West Central Transfer Station
9743 Process Drive in Royal Palm Beach
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- West Palm Beach
Home Chemical and Recycling Center
6161 N. Jog Road in West Palm Beach
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Saturday is self-serve drop-off containers only)
The SWA’s Home Chemical and Recycling Centers are also a great destination for your home cooking oils, like the oil used to deep fry turkeys. If this grease is dumped down the drain, it can clog pipes and possibly back up home plumbing and lift stations. Just allow it to cool, put it in a closed container, like a milk jug, and bring it to one of seven Home Chemical and Recycling Centers.
And, if you find any unusual chemicals while cleaning for your holiday parties, keep the Home Chemical and Recycling Centers in mind. Residents can drop off pesticides, cleaning products, solvents, pool chemicals, paint, rechargeable batteries and fluorescent bulbs. Learn more about the SWA’s hazardous waste program online.
Christmas Tree Disposal Right at Your CurbLive in unincorporated parts of Palm Beach County? Just as with any other yard waste, place your live Christmas tree curbside on your regular yard waste collection day. As a general rule, Christmas trees up to 8 feet long and weighing no more than 50 pounds can be placed at the curb whole. Trees larger than 8 feet long should be cut in half. Remember to remove all decorations, lights and tinsel before placing your Christmas tree at the curb.
The collected Christmas trees are treated like any other vegetative waste.
Live in a multi-family community with dumpster service? Contact your home owner’s association or property management company directly for disposal procedures.
Live in one of Palm Beach County’s 38 municipalities? Contact your municipality directly for their Christmas tree collection procedures. A list of municipal contacts can be found online.
Tips for Other Items
- Plastic bags and film (like wrap on water bottle cases) can be recycled at most local supermarkets in special bins. Loose and soiled bags and film go in the trash.
- Styrofoam food trays and egg cartons can be recycled at most local supermarkets in special bins.
- Oversized and large volumes of flattened cardboard boxes may be recycled at any of the Home Chemical and Recycling Centers or at one of more than 300 community drop offs.
- Strings of holiday lights may be may be recycled at any of the Home Chemical and Recycling Centers.
- Pre-lit and artificial trees should be discarded as trash.
- Holiday decorations and ornaments should be discarded as trash.
- Donate older/gently used clothing to a local nonprofit, church or woman’s shelter to be reused.
- Excess trash can be taken to the North County Landfill during regular hours, but there is a charge for disposal.
Much more information is available online at SWA.org. Or, contact Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County Customer Service with your questions or comments at 561-697-2700, toll-free at 866-SWA-INFO (866-792-4636) or ContactCIS.
Happy holidays!
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