How Do You Recycle, Compost, and Reduce Holiday Waste in Asheville?

The holidays are full of joy, good food, sparkling lights—and, let’s be honest, a surprising amount of trash. Between gift wrap, shipping materials, leftovers, décor, and real Christmas trees, December can leave Asheville homes with more waste than any other time of year. Fortunately, Western North Carolina offers plenty of ways to celebrate sustainably.

Whether you’re prepping your house for guests or doing a post-holiday reset, here’s how to recycle, compost, and reduce waste in a way that’s friendly to the mountains we call home.

Recycle Holiday Materials the Asheville-Approved Way

Holiday recycling can be tricky, especially with all the shiny, glittery packaging that looks recyclable but isn’t. To make things easier, stick to this rule: When in doubt, throw it out. If a non-recyclable item sneaks into the bin, it can contaminate the entire load.

What Asheville accepts in curbside recycling:

• Plain paper wrapping (no foil or glitter)

• Cardboard boxes and shipping tubes

• Paper gift bags (remove handles if they’re plastic or ribbon)

• Glass bottles and jars

• Clean aluminum cans and trays

What to avoid:

• Foil wrapping paper

• Glitter-covered paper

• Plastic bows and ribbons

• Styrofoam

• Bubble wrap (take to specialty drop-offs instead)

For oversized loads of cardboard and glass—like after a big family gathering—Buncombe County’s transfer station is a good option.

Compost Food Scraps and Natural Décor

The holidays generate tons of compostable materials. If you use a curbside composting service or home bin, make sure to include:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps

• Coffee grounds and tea bags

• Eggshells

• Plain paper napkins

• Evergreen branches and wreaths without wire or glitter

For those without home compost bins, consider a local compost pickup service.

Reduce Waste Before It Starts

One of the easiest ways to enjoy a greener holiday season is to prevent unnecessary waste from piling up in the first place. A few local-friendly ideas:

• Wrap smarter. Use kraft paper, fabric squares, or reusable bags from Asheville’s many local shops.

• Choose gifts with purpose. Local artisan goods, refillable products, and experiences (like Biltmore visits or outdoor rentals) create memories, not trash.

• Buy in bulk. For baking marathons or holiday dinners, choose ingredients with less packaging.

• Decorate naturally. Dried oranges, evergreen clippings, and pinecones make beautiful, compostable décor.

In a town that values sustainability as much as Asheville does, small choices add up and help keep our mountains clean and healthy.

Enjoy a Cleaner, Healthier Holiday

At Green Home Cleaning, we believe the holidays are best enjoyed in a healthy, welcoming home. That’s why we use handmade, non-toxic cleaning products, thoughtful practices, and sustainable methods to help Asheville homeowners celebrate in cleaner spaces.

Want your kitchen to be guest-ready without spending hours scrubbing? Schedule a holiday cleaning with Asheville’s most eco-conscious cleaning team today.