BY AMANDA HARRISON
The holiday season is filled with giving; whether it's money to charities, card giving to family and friends, or presents to the kids. But all that giving leads to an increase in trash.
Emmet County Recycling is expanding what materials are accepted this time of year to encourage people to keep the waste out of a landfill.
This time of year the waste stream increases by 25 percent.
Kate Melby is with Emmet County Recycling. She says to cut back on waste the recycling center has increased what it accepts during the holiday season.
"New this year we're taking cards, like greeting cards and wrapping paper though it is limited to ones that don't have metallic foils or inks, so if it looks gold or silver or shimmery, or glittery, those would interfere with the recycling process. But other greeting cards and wrapping paper can go right in with the paper now." Melby said.
Melby said Christmas trees are also free to recycle through the end of January.