While we are in the thick of the holiday season, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) reminds residents that this is a great time to exercise those recycling muscles and build good trash-reducing habits that will last throughout the year.

In the last two weeks before Christmas and Hanukkah, there will be a lot of buying, boxing, and wrapping of gifts. There will be even more at the New Year’s parties. That means a lot of material will be sent out for disposal. By the time the festivities have ended, industry experts say household waste will increase by an average of 25 percent. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says common holiday items like wrapping paper and gift boxes will add an additional 1 million tons of trash to landfills.

Recycling, on the other hand, preserves landfill space, uses fewer natural resources, supports the economy, creates jobs, saves energy and helps to reduce the effects of global warming. Here are some ways you can make the holidays greener:

Give a RECYCLING bin: Got that neighbor or relative that is hard to buy for? Get them a recycling bin for the holidays! You can nudge them toward environmental responsibility and meet them curbside to chat over how little trash you have now that you both recycle. Stop by 111 Kane Street to buy a bin, or call 410-396-4511 to learn about other locations where they are sold.

REDUCE your holiday waste:  Take reusable bags when you go shopping, send e-cards, or consider wrapping gifts in festive holiday fabrics that can be simply washed and reused next season.

CHOOSE the right wrapper: Plain and tissue paper, paper tubes, and boxes should go right in the recycle bin. If you have glossy paper, reuse it; it will still look bright next year. Metallic and wax-coated wrapping paper cannot be recycled so please don’t buy it and if you get it, please put it in the trash. It should not go into our single stream recycling.

MULCH your Christmas tree: You give it a warm home for a few weeks, and dress it in festive lights, tinsel, and ornaments. When the holidays are done, don’t just leave your Christmas tree at the curb for a ride in the trash truck to the landfill. DPW offers tree mulching from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday, during the entire month of January (except City holidays) at Southwest Citizens’ Convenience Center, 701 Reedbird Ave. Residents may bring their own bags or containers if they wish to collect mulch for their own use. Community groups are also encouraged to bring bags or containers and collect free mulch for neighborhood gardens while supplies last. Just make sure all tinsel and ornaments are removed before mulching.