So this was Christmas.

We sang songs. We drank eggnog. We exchanged presents. Now we’re left with these unwanted piles of boxes, wrapping paper and ribbons – not to mention evergreen trees shedding dry needles like there’s no tomorrow.

In short, it’s time to clean up the mess.

What are we supposed to do with all this stuff?

Those messy Christmas trees – we know – go out to the curb, or in the green-waste bucket.

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But what about other holiday waste we don’t normally deal with?

We checked with Waste Management and CR&R, which haul trash for customers in cities across Riverside, Orange and Los Angeles counties. Officials with Burrtec, whose area includes San Bernardino County, could not be reached. Be sure to check with your local waste disposal service to see what’s preferred in your town because some cities handle their own garbage.

So, how about recycling that pretty – but-now-torn-up-and-useless – wrapping paper?

Yes.

Most trash haulers recycle all kinds of wrapping paper. If you live in an area served by Waste Management, put shiny, foil-like paper in the regular-trash bin, company spokeswoman Eloisa Orozco advises. Recycle everything else.

Let’s face it. Some of us are too lazy to wrap presents. So we stuff them in gift bags and cover them with tissue paper.

Where does that tissue paper go?

In the trash – if you’re served by Waste Management. In the recycle bin – if you’re served by CR&R.

Gift bags?

Recycle bucket.

No present would be complete without a frilly finish. Bows and ribbons?

Depends. CR&R customers: recycle bin. Waste Management customers: trash. Best option? Save ribbons and bows and use them again, Orozco says. Gift bags, too.

Amazon boxes?

Recycle bin. Or donate them to charity through Goodwill.

And those foam peanuts that came packed inside the boxes?

Trash. Unless, that is, you live in the city of Riverside. Brandi Becker, senior administrative analyst in Riverside’s public works department, said foam peanuts may go in the recycle bin – if placed in a sealed bag.

Alright, alright. Let’s move on to decorations.

Melted Menorah or Kwanzaa candles?

Put them in the trash. Or, scrape away the melted blob and wax skateboards, snowboards or skis.

Broken Christmas lights?

Neither the trash nor recycle bin. Take strings of lights to an electronic waste recycling facility or to a retailer with a recycling program.

Time to lighten up. Where does the silvery tinsel go?

Trash. Wait, you’re still using tinsel?

Ornaments?

Trash. Exception: In Riverside, Becker said, plastic ornaments go in the recycle bin.

Of course, we didn’t just celebrate. We ate … and ate … and ate …

Empty eggnog cartons?

Recycle bin.

And we can’t forget a critically important, long-standing holiday tradition.

What to do with that leftover fruitcake?

Throw it out with the trash, disposal operators say.

“Unless,” says Dean Ruffridge, CR&R corporate senior vice president and manager of operations in Los Angeles and Orange counties, “their city is enrolled in our organics program. Then it goes into the green-waste cart.”

Contact the writer: 951-368-9699 orddowney@scng.comTwitter: PE_DavidDowney

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