PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — With the holidays come a surplus in trash and recycling items. Burlington County has some reminders for residents.
Ann Moore, Burlington County Recycling Coordinator, says styrofoam, plastic bags and bubble wrap can get stuck in machines and damage equipment.
“Styrofoam in particular should just go in the trash. They need to make sure their boxes are empty, flattened, and folded. And the same thing would apply to any plastic that is wrapped around the items that they get, those boxes need to have all plastic removed,” Moore said.
Moore says to be mindful of tossing greeting cards that light up or play songs.
“So if you are getting new gadgets or you have toys or you have greeting cards that sing or say ‘Ho ho ho,’ They have little batteries in them, and if they end up in our plant and the batteries even get nicked they can explode, ignite and cause fires.”
Moore says things like foil wrapping paper, plastic gift bags, bows, ribbons, aluminum foil, food trays, plastic plates, cups, cutlery and plastic-coated gift cards should all go in the trash.
For more recycling tips, visit co.burlington.nj.