RAPID CITY, SD- As the spooky season wraps up in the Black Hills, many South Dakota residents are left with a collection of post-Halloween items and questions about proper disposal. The fun is over, the candy bowls are sparse, and the jack-o’-lanterns are beginning to look a little past their prime. The Rapid City Solid Waste Division has provided a guide on how to handle the inevitable “stuff” that comes with the holiday.
Here are the helpful hints from Solid Waste officials:
- Lights: Non-working strings of holiday lights can be recycled. They can be dropped off at the Landfill at the Solid Waste Administration Office entrance. Starting November 1, look for special holiday light recycling collection boxes that will be placed at various locations throughout Rapid City.
- Pumpkins: Pumpkins can be disposed of in a few different ways. Residents can place them in their regular garbage container. Alternatively, they make for great backyard compost. They can also be taken to the remote site yard waste bins located at Fitzgerald Stadium or West Boulevard North facilities.
- Costumes and Masks: If a costume or mask is still in good condition, consider reusing it next year or donating it to a local thrift store. If the item is no longer usable, it should be placed in the regular garbage container.
- Wrappers, Glow Sticks, Stretchy Webs: Items like candy wrappers, stretchy spider webs, glow sticks, and other similar materials should be placed in the trash. These items are generally not recyclable through the city’s standard program.