The holiday season is a time for giving, gathering and—unfortunately—generating more waste than any other time of year. Between wrapping paper, packaging and food scraps, household waste can increase by more than 25% from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. This year, Union City residents can make a big difference by following a few simple steps to reduce waste, recycle right and compost responsibly.
Reduce and reuse before you recycle
Start by rethinking how you shop and wrap. Choose gifts such as experiences, homemade treats or reusable items that don’t rely on excessive packaging. Bring your own bags when shopping, and consider buying locally to reduce transportation emissions. When wrapping, skip the glitter and foil—most of those papers can’t be recycled. Instead, reuse gift bags, baskets or fabric wraps. Even newspaper comics make a fun and eco-friendly alternative.
Recycle smart
Union City residents can recycle clean paper, cardboard, bottles and cans in the blue cart. Remember to keep recyclables empty, clean and dry—food and liquid residue can contaminate an entire load. Flatten cardboard boxes before placing them in the cart to save space. Styrofoam, plastic film and ribbons are not recyclable curbside—reuse them or dispose of them in the garbage cart.
Compost what you can
Holiday cooking often means more food scraps—and more opportunities to compost. Place fruit and vegetable trimmings, coffee grounds, tea bags, bones and plate scraps in your green compost cart. You can also compost uncoated paper plates, napkins and food-soiled pizza boxes. Avoid putting plastic utensils, bags or coated paper products in the compost cart.
Every small action—whether it’s recycling right or composting leftovers—helps keep reusable materials out of the landfill and supports California’s climate goals under SB 1383, which requires communities to reduce organic waste disposal and recover edible food. By celebrating mindfully, we can make the holidays a little brighter—not just for our families, but for the planet we all share.
