Christmas Eve is here, all four candles have burned out. It's no longer allowed to decorate the table, and it probably doesn't look fishy anymore either. In short: the Advent wreath has had its day. But how is it properly disposed of? After all, it's not just made of fir green.
How do I properly dispose of an Advent wreath?
To dispose of an Advent wreath in an environmentally friendly way, separate it into its components: fir greens belong in the organic waste bin, candle remains in the residual waste bin, decorations and blanks, depending on the material, in the organic waste bin, the yellow bag or the residual waste.
Can the entire Advent wreath be thrown in the trash?
No. The typical Advent wreath is made up of several parts, each of which can be made of very different materials.
- Blank
- Candles, made of beeswax or paraffin
- fresh fir green
- Wire wrapping
- Candle holder
- Decoration made of plastic, fabric, metal or wood
In the interests of environmentally friendly waste separation, the Advent wreath should be dismantled into its components before disposal.
Which trash does the pine green belong in?
Fir branches spared from candle wax are purely organic material and can therefore bein the organic waste bin Regardless of whether they are still green or already dried out. Even if the Advent wreath loses needles prematurely, the material collected is organic waste. Alternatively, fir branches can be added to home compost, although the decomposition of coniferous material makes the compost more acidic. The quantities used for the Advent wreath are far too small. Another alternative is to put them on the side of the road in the New Year with the Christmas firs to be disposed of.
What to do with the blank?
Thedepends on the material, so look closely! But before you throw away the old blank, check whether you can't reuse it. Equipped with a few fresh fir branches and new candles and spiced up with other decorations, it can decorate the next Advent season. Otherwise: straw, floral foam and other natural materials in the organic waste bin. Clean Styrofoam in the yellow bag. Contaminated blanks and those with solid wire always go into the residual waste bin.
Are wax candles organic waste and other hazardous waste?
No. Candles arenot hazardous waste and not compostable,even though beeswax is a naturally occurring material. Candle stubs that can no longer be used are therefore residual waste. Candles that are made from crude oil contain recyclable materials. However, it would only be worthwhile to take it to a recycling center if you weigh more than 10 kg. These leftover candles from the Advent wreath also go into the residual waste bin.
Which bin do decorations and remaining parts go into?
Candle holders are usually reusable, wire too. Otherwise, as with decorations, thematerial is crucial Untreated dried orange peels, cinnamon sticks and nuts can go in the organic waste bin. But most of the decoration has to go into the residual waste bin if there is no other use for it.
Tip
Less waste with Advent wreath alternatives
Nowadays there are some alternatives available for traditional Advent wreaths. Most of them can be reused for several years. You can also improvise an Advent wreath yourself using simple means, from which you only have to dispose of the leftover candles later.
