To the editor:

The holidays are fast approaching — trees are being decorated and gift boxes are being wrapped. The spirit of Christmas is upon us once again, and soon there will be the leftover reminders of our holiday cheer — empty boxes and paper and tinsel and ribbons and bows. 

Real Christmas greenery like trees and wreaths must be free from tinsel, lights, bags, ornaments — must be naked! Christmas trees will be collected by Portsmouth’s DPW shortly after the New Year — watch for the town’s collection schedule in the Portsmouth Times and at portsmouthri.com. 

Natural wreaths must have the metal backing removed before going into the yard waste container. Metal would go into the metal container. If wreaths are not natural (i.e., plastic) then they must go into a trash bag. 

Reuse bows, ribbons, or throw away into a town trash bag. Long ribbons and loose bows can tangle RIRRC (Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation) machinery. Tinsel could be reused but, if not, then it should go into an orange town trash bag. 

Reuse or recycle gift bags and wrapping paper. If wrapping is real paper (from a tree), then it can be recycled. 

Paper should be flattened (don’t bunch wrapping paper, flatten boxes).

Cardboard boxes should be no larger than 3 by 5 feet. Please flatten all boxes and remember, Styrofoam is not recyclable; any Styrofoam from those boxes must be placed into a town PAYT trash bag. 

Tree lights will also get caught in RIRRC machinery. Please place all discarded Christmas tree lights into the town trash bag. 

Recyclables should always be loose. Plastic bags should always go into the trash — never into recycling. 

Please wear a mask when disposing of trash and recycling materials and please practice safe social distancing. 

For information, contact Ray Antaya at 401/643-0359 or rantaya@portsmouthri.com 

Happy holidays! 

Ray Antaya

Recycling coordinator

Portsmouth

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