Can You Recycle Christmas Ornaments? What to Do Instead

Usually not. Most glass and plastic Christmas ornaments cannot go in curbside recycling, because they are thin, coated, painted or made of mixed materials that recycling centers cannot process. Ornaments in good condition are better donated to a thrift store or charity, broken ones go in the trash wrapped in paper, and Christmas lights should go to an electronics or lights recycling drop-off, not the recycling bin. Rules vary by city, so check your local program.

Can you recycle glass Christmas ornaments?

Not in your recycling bin. The Spokesman-Review notes that the delicate glass balls on trees and wreaths are unfortunately not recyclable, and that broken glass or clay ornaments should be put in the trash. Ornament glass is very thin and usually silvered, painted or glittered, which makes it different from the bottle and jar glass that recycling programs accept.

When an ornament breaks, sweep up the pieces, wrap them in newspaper or put them in a small box, and label it “broken glass” before it goes in the trash, so nobody is cut handling the bag.

Can you recycle plastic ornaments?

Generally not either. ABC30 reports that both glass and plastic ornaments are generally not recyclable because of their materials and should go in the landfill bin. Shatterproof ornaments are often made of mixed plastics with metallic coatings and glitter, and most programs do not accept them.

What about tinsel, lights and other decorations?

Tinsel: cannot be recycled, according to both the Spokesman-Review and ABC30. Reuse it each year, and take it all off a real tree before the tree is collected.
Christmas lights: do not put them in the recycling bin. ABC30 says lights count as electronic waste and should not go to landfill; many household waste centers and some stores collect them. The Spokesman-Review adds that some lighting companies take old lights in exchange for a discount.
Natural decorations: wreaths, holly and greenery can usually be composted or collected with yard waste, once wire and ribbon are removed.
Paper decorations: plain paper chains and cards without glitter or foil can often go in paper recycling.

Can you donate Christmas ornaments?

Yes, and it is usually the best option for ornaments you no longer use. The Spokesman-Review says intact ornaments can often be donated to thrift stores or charities, and ABC30 says decorations in good condition can go to charity shops. Before you donate:

Check that hangers and caps are still attached.
Pack glass ornaments in an egg carton or a box with paper between them, so they arrive in one piece.
Call ahead in late fall or after the holidays. Some stores only take seasonal items at certain times of year.
Consider schools, churches, senior centers, community theaters and local “buy nothing” groups, which often welcome decorations.

What to do with personalized or sentimental ornaments

Ornaments with a name, a date or a photo are hard to donate and hard to throw away. A few ideas:

Give them to the person whose name is on them, or to a sibling or grandchild who will remember them.
Display them year-round on a small stand, a shadow box or a window. Our guide to displaying ornaments without a tree has ideas.
Use them as gift toppers instead of bows.
Keep one box of keepsakes and let the rest go.

Can you store Christmas ornaments in the attic or garage?

You can, but neither is ideal for anything delicate. Attics and garages can get very hot in summer and very cold or damp in winter. Heat can soften glue and plastic, fade paint and printed surfaces, and damp can cause mildew on fabric, crochet and wood. Glass and ceramic ornaments handle temperature swings better than fabric, but can still crack if a box is crushed or knocked.

If the attic or garage is your only space, use sealed plastic bins rather than cardboard, keep bins off the floor, and store sentimental, fabric and crochet ornaments inside the house, such as in a closet or under a bed. Our guide on how to store Christmas ornaments covers packing each type.

Quick answers

Can you recycle Christmas ornaments? Usually not in curbside recycling. Donate the good ones and trash the broken ones, wrapped.
Can you recycle Christmas lights? Not in the bin. Take them to an electronics or lights drop-off.
Can you donate ornaments? Yes, to thrift stores, charities, schools or churches.
Is the attic a good place for ornaments? Fine for sturdy ones in sealed bins; keep fabric and keepsakes indoors.