Rumpke’s Recycling Naughty & Nice List
COLUMBUS, Ohio–December 12, 2025—The winter holidays are always a time of fun, good cheer and plenty of gift giving. But what happens as all the holiday festivities wrap up?
From Thanksgiving to New Years, the average household’s waste increases by as much as 25%. Old items we replace, wrapping paper and tons of packaging material are all tossed into the trash.
By recycling some of these items and making more sustainable choices, we can reduce unnecessary waste. And the best gift of all? You’re helping save critical natural resources that our environment and ecosystems need to thrive for future generations to come.
Don’t be a naughty “wish-cycler” during the holiday season. Know before you throw and review Rumpke’s Recycling Naughty & Nice List before tossing an item into your curbside recycling bin:
Nice List: Acceptable Items
- Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, cups and clear clamshell containers
- Glass bottles and jars (remove the top from jars and recycle separately)
- Greeting cards (no non-paper accessories or ones that play music)
- Wrapper paper (paper only, no foil or glitter)
- Aluminim, steel and tin food and drink cans
- Gift, candy and shoe cardboard boxes
- Pizza boxes (no food or grease)
- Dry paper food boxes
- Paper Amazon mailers
- Newspapers, catalgoues, junk mail and magazines
Naughty List: Unacceptable Items
- Batteries – Please visit our website for safe battery disposal practices or www.batterysafetynow.org.
- Electronics
- Holiday lights
- Plants and trees
- Tissue paper
- Aluminum foil, pie tins and casserole or roasting pans
- Ribbons and bows
- Plastic bags
For a complete list of acceptable items and more holiday recycling tips, please visit www.rumpke.com.
Don’t let your recyclable items after the holidays go to waste in the landfill. Recycle more to make the holiday season brighter, merrier and greener!
To learn more about Rumpke, visit www.rumpke.com.
