By now a lot of Christmas presents have been unwrapped and the Head of Steinbach's Solid Waste Department is reminding us that wrapping paper is non-recyclable.

Eldon Wallman explains wrapping paper is made of paper that has been recycled so many times, it has reached the end of its lifespan. If Eastman Recycling crews spot wrapping paper in a blue box, Wallman says they will not pick it up.

(Eldon Wallman)Also on the list of non-recyclables are aluminum foil and plastic bags.

Wallman would like to remind everyone that what you put at the end of your driveway could tip off thieves as to what you unwrapped this Christmas. For example, he says televisions are getting bigger yet cheaper and because that is a popular Christmas gift, he encourages everyone to cut up those cardboard boxes before putting them in your blue box for recycling day.

Meanwhile, Wallman asks anyone wanting to recycle their living Christmas tree to hang onto it for another couple of weeks. He says they usually wait until after Ukrainian Christmas to offer the service. Then, on your regular garbage day, just bring the tree to the end of your driveway and crews will pick it up after their garbage run.

According to Wallman, there are fewer and fewer of these trees being picked up each year. He thinks that is partially because of the beautiful fake trees you can buy but also because people are wanting to be more environmentally friendly. He guesses only about 100 trees are recycled each year in Steinbach, and some of those not before spring.

"It's a standing joke every year to see when the last one gets put out," he says. "And I think it's usually May or June every year that we still have one or two that show up there."

Wallman says the trees that are recycled get chipped up and then used for composting or for traction for their vehicles during the rainy season.