wrapping paper.jpgWhew, the crazy holiday season is almost over.  All the gifts are opened, all the relatives are gone,  and now all the cleanup begins.  Lots of presents, lots of food, and lots of decorations add up to …well, lots of trash.  But, before you start chunking everything in the garbage can, a majority of your holiday trash can actually be saved to make one last great gift to give to... your Lifetime Compost Tumbler!
 
Holidays provide lots of great compost material that often gets overlooked. Take a look at all of these items you probably have laying around your house now that Santa has come and gone that you can easily add to your Lifetime Composter.
 
Do put in your composter:

  • Wrapping paper - Use only non-foil, non-glossy papers.  Be sure to remove any ribbons and tape.   Tear or shred paper then add it to your composter gradually to maintain a good green/brown balance.  (Paper is considered a brown material.)
  • Empty wrapping paper tubes
  • Tissue paper
  • Cardboard boxes
  • Hanging price tags - Remove the plastic tabs first.
  • Christmas dinner table scraps – Do not add animal fats, gravy, meats, cheeses, or bones to your composter.
  • Napkins 
  • Paper plates
  • Fruitcake - Yep, I'm serious.  We don’t know why Aunt Edna always gives it since no one ever eats it, but your composter will love it!

Don't put in your composter:

  • Foil , glossy, or metallic wrapping papers
  • Ribbons and bows
  • Evergreen garland and wreaths
  • Christmas trees

Evergreen garlands, wreaths, and Christmas trees all contain chemicals in the needles which kill the bacteria necessary for the composting process in a compost tumbler.  However, pine needles do make excellent mulch.  Instead of putting them in your Lifetime Composter, simply  trim the branches, pile them neatly where ever you want the mulch, and leave them there until the needles fall off.  Then chip or dispose of the branches. 

If you don't want to use your Christmas tree as mulch, many cities offer special curbside Christmas tree collection days.  Or, you can visit Earth911.com and simply type in "Christmas Trees" and your zip code to find your nearest Christmas Tree recycling center.