Landfill of Love: How to Keep Your Valentine’s from being Waste

Valentine’s Day is a flurry of cards, heart decorations, and flowers meant to celebrate love. Just like love lasts beyond a single day, all of the Valentine’s supplies have a lasting impact as well. Having all of your Valentine’s things end up in the landfill doesn’t feel so romantic, so having a plan for it all can give you a better symbol of everlasting love and some peace of mind.

While it’s easy to assume that much of our Valentine’s waste can be recycled, the reality is more complicated. Many people don’t realize that some Valentine’s Day items like glittery cards, candy wrappers, and some packaging can’t always be processed through Dalton’s recycling system. And unfortunately, when the wrong items get tossed into the blue bins, they can contaminate otherwise recyclable materials, leading to more waste heading to landfills.

One of the biggest culprits of post-Valentine’s Day waste is greeting cards. Every year, millions of cards are exchanged, but not all of them can go in the recycling bin. Dalton’s recycling program does accept paper-based greeting cards, but only if they are free from glitter, foil, plastic coatings, or embellishments. If a card is shiny or has decorative attachments, try reusing it for crafts throughout the year or saving them to display for years to come.

Flowers are another major part of Valentine’s Day, but once they begin to wilt, they often end up in the garbage. While fresh flowers are biodegradable, the plastic wrap they come in is not. Dalton’s curbside recycling does not accept plastic film, so the best option is to remove it before disposing of the flowers.

If you have a backyard compost pile, your flowers can be composted at home. Otherwise, they will need to go in the regular trash. The vases that often accompany bouquets, however, are usually reusable. Instead of tossing them, consider donating them to local thrift stores, reusing them for future flower arrangements, or checking if local florists will take them back.

Chocolate and candy packaging also adds to the waste problem after Valentine’s Day. The heart-shaped boxes that chocolates come in are made of multiple materials—cardboard, plastic, and sometimes fabric or metal—which makes them difficult to recycle. If the box is plain cardboard, it can be recycled in Dalton’s system, but if it contains mixed materials, it should be reused or thrown away. Metal boxes can be recycled with the scrap metal at any of the four convenience centers.

Individual candy wrappers are another issue. Most candy wrappers are made of plastic or foil blends that are not recyclable locally, meaning they belong in the trash. The only candy packaging that is safe to recycle are paperboard boxes like you usually see Nerds, Dots, or Milkduds come in.

Some candy and gifts will come wrapped in plastic. After the day is over, you can take your plastic bags, film, and wrap to nearby retailers like Walmart and Kroger where you will find collection bins near their entrances where plastic bags and films can be dropped off.

Stuffed animals and other holiday-themed gifts can also contribute to waste if they are discarded after the holiday. While they can’t be recycled, they can be donated to local thrift stores or charities if they are in good condition. Places like the Salvation Army or local shelters may accept gently used plush toys and other Valentine’s gifts, keeping them out of landfills and giving them a second life.

If you are especially keen, you can plan ahead and reduce your waste by buying flowers wrapped in paper, getting sweets from a local bakery instead of chocolates wrapped in plastic, and choosing simple paper greeting card that can be easily recycled. By paying attention to how we handle the holiday’s leftovers, we can celebrate love without leaving behind a trail of unnecessary waste.

Amy Hartline is the recycling and education program coordinator for the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority. Have a recycling question? Contact her at (706) 278-5001 or ahartline@dwswa.org.