California typically sees a 25% increase in waste during the holiday season, according to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). This uptick happens between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, driven by increased consumption and disposal of single-use items.
“So that’s a lot of waste from the things that we usually just use once and end up tossing away,” said CalRecycle spokesperson Jessica Pureco. “California is working on building a circular economy so we can reuse, repair and recycle instead of using single-use items and throwing things away.”
Jody Strait, Modesto’s solid waste supervisor, manages the city’s two franchise haulers: Gilton Solid Waste Management and Bertolotti Disposal Service. Strait has observed an increase in overflowing garbage containers after the holidays.
Reducing this seasonal waste can be challenging. Pureco noted that American families spend up to $3,000 each year on food that goes uneaten. She suggested shopping at home first before buying more groceries to reduce unnecessary purchases. “That way, you can work with what you already have and prepare meals based on guest count,” Pureco said. She also encouraged residents to ask guests to bring reusable containers for leftovers.
Composting food scraps is another way to limit landfill waste and reduce air pollution. During gatherings, labeling bins for proper disposal helps guests sort compostable items correctly.
Modesto residents can obtain a free 3-gallon compost bin from the Division of Public Works’ office at Tenth Street Place (1010 10th St.), according to Strait.
Glass remains highly recyclable. Since January 2024, California’s CRV rules now include alcohol bottles as redeemable items. Pareco recommended saving glass bottles for redemption at recycling centers, which can provide extra money during the holidays. There are about 30 recycling centers in Stanislaus County where residents can drop off recyclables if they miss curbside collection.
Enrique Lepe owns Alejandra’s Recycling on Coffee Road, which handles glass, plastic, and aluminum cans. He reported that December brings higher recycling volumes per customer as people save up materials for cash before Christmas. His nephew Andres Lepe added: “It’s mostly the week before Christmas that we get that uptick…the volume is higher per customer because they are saving a lot.” In January, fewer customers visit but often bring large quantities.
Reusing or swapping holiday decorations with friends helps reduce excess waste. Not all paper-based holiday products are recyclable; Strait explained that plain wrapping paper and cards go into green bins for composting while those with foil or glitter should go in black bins.
For unwanted but functioning holiday lights, donation is advised first; broken lights should be taken to local transfer centers or recyclers rather than being placed in any residential bin.
“Something that I do with my friends and family is we gift each other tickets to experiences like memberships or subscriptions,” Pareco said when discussing ways to avoid material gifts altogether.
If gifts require batteries, using rechargeable ones is recommended since improper battery disposal is illegal and hazardous. Through a CalRecycle grant, Modesto will collect certain batteries until January 2027.
The city collects between 4,000 and 5,000 tons of leaves every December via its green waste program—focused solely on leaves during this month. Natural Christmas tree collection happens in January and February; trees must be stripped of stands and decorations before pickup. Trees with flocking or fire retardant coatings cannot be collected curbside; these should go into regular trash bins along with artificial trees.
“By sharing these simple tips and by families making simple changes at home, we’re really hoping to bring down the amount of trash that’s produced over the holidays,” Pureco said.
