What to Recycle This Valentine's Day - Cards, Candy Boxes, Roses, and More

Roses are red. Violets are blue. You should know what to throw and what to recycle too! Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special someone, exchanging Galentine’s Day gifts with friends, or just indulging in sweet treats, make sure you show some love to our Blue Planet® by understanding which Valentine’s items can and cannot be recycled. 

• Cards. This year feel free to give and send cards to your heart’s content. In fact, most Americans do – Hallmark estimates that approximately 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are shared each year. The great thing about exchanging cards for the holiday of love is that you can typically recycle your cards after the holiday. However, if your cards have embellishments (like glitter, foils, and other additions), you’re better off keeping those as keepsakes as they can’t be recycled. The adorable cards that talk and sing? The tiny batteries that power those cards can ignite when compressed and cause the bad kind of sparks, resulting in a fire. These fun cards need to be treated as batteries and recycled or disposed of safely. Looking for fun, recycling-approved Valentine’s Day cards? Download our printable cards today. 
   
• Chocolate Candy. It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without a heart-shaped box of chocolates, but did you know that the shrink-wrapped plastic on these boxes can’t be recycled? And, if your cardboard box of chocolate candies has any food residue, it must be thrown away in your garbage. Food residue on boxes could contaminate your entire recycling bin.  Learn more about contamination and other recycling myths.
   
• Flowers. Nothing says love like a bouquet full of roses. Your beautiful bouquet is a symbol of love, but that bouquet doesn’t include a recycling symbol. So, what can you do with your Valentine’s Day flowers after the holiday? You can include them with your yard waste or compost them.  Earth911.com can walk you through how to preserve and compost your flowers the right way. 
   
• Takeout Containers. During these challenging times, it’s nice to enjoy a restaurant-quality meal at home, but that leaves you with the aftermath – takeout containers. Make sure that while you’re treating yourself, you’re also treating planet Earth well too! Learn the good, the bad, and the ugly of recycling your takeout containers. 
   

Celebrating Valentine’s Day is a great way to show your love to your friends and family. But, it’s also a great time to show your love to our Blue Planet® by recycling your holiday items correctly. 

Learn more about recycling at RecyclingSimplified.com.