Trash and Recycling

Hefty® ReNew program information

The Hefty® ReNew™ orange bag program gives participating residents a way to collect plastics that are not accepted as loose items in the curbside recycle cart. This voluntary program gives residents the opportunity to divert a variety of plastics from the landfill to be converted into valued resources.

How Does it Work?

  1. Purchase Hefty® ReNew™ orange bags.
  2. Collect clean and dry hard-to-recycle plastics in the bag.
  3. Place full, tied bags into your blue recycle cart.
  4. The recycling truck collects the bags and delivers them to a local recycling facility as a part of normal service.
  5. The collected plastics can become an energy resource, feedstock for fuels or new products, or ground into smaller pieces to make new plastic building products and plastic lumber.

To learn more about this voluntary recycling program including what can go in the orange bags, where you can purchase the orange bags, and what happens to the orange bags after collection, go to the Hefty® ReNew™ website.

The Hefty® ReNew™ program was developed and is managed by Reynolds Consumer Products and DOW Chemical Corporation. The City of Garden City is one of several US cities that participate in the program.

Republic Services' Garden City Recycling, Trash, and Compost Handbook

Hefty.com's ReNew™ program checklist of what goes in the orange bag

Frequently Asked Questions

Guidelines

  • Recycling collection is unlimited. Fill your recycling cart, then fill a sturdy container (such as a cardboard box) with recyclables, label it "Recycling", and place near your blue cart.
  • Set carts out by 7:00 a.m., remove from the street within 24 hours.
  • Place wheeled cart against the curb or along the alley with the handle pointing towards your residence; do not block the sidewalk with carts.
  • Keep carts at least three feet away from other carts, mailboxes, fire hydrants, low hanging trees or shrubs, parked cars, or utility poles so trucks can easily access the cart.
  • Do not place hazardous waste in your trash or recycling cart. See Household Hazardous Waste for more information.

Holiday Schedules

Collection is delayed by one day for the following holidays:

  • New Year's Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day

If the holiday is observed on a weekend, no changes will occur with the collection schedule.

Holiday waste and recycling tips

How to set out your holiday tree for recycling, tips for sorting common holiday waste, and how to set out extra trash.

Holiday tree pickup for composting (January 5-9, 2026)

For natural trees, first remove all trimmings from your tree, including lights, ornaments, tinsel, and tree stand.

Then you have two options:

  1. Set out your whole tree (if it is 4 feet in length or shorter) next to your garbage bin on your collection day.
  2. If it is longer than 4 feet, cut your tree into pieces 4 feet or shorter, and place next to your garbage bin. 

Artificial trees and trees “flocked” with fake snow are considered garbage and must go in the trash bin.

Extra trash (December 29, 2025 - January 3, 2026)

If you end up with more trash than usual over the holidays, you can set out extra bags, trees, or cans (32 gal and 55 lbs. max) for free collection on your regular trash day, the week after Christmas.

For large, bulky items that don’t fit into your garbage bin (like furniture or mattresses), call Republic Services at 208-345-1265 for a cost estimate (prices vary). If the item is still in good condition, please consider donating it.

Renters

If you rent a house or apartment, ask the property manager before setting out whole trees, extra garbage, or bulky items.

How to sort holiday waste

Unsure about which bin to put things in? Here's a quick guide:

Garbage

  • Envelopes with plastic padding (even if the outside is paper).
  • Bubble wrap, plastic “air pillows,” and packing peanuts.
  • Plastic gift cards and any plastic not shaped like a bottle or round tub.
  • String lights, ribbon, yarn, and cords – these get tangled in the machines that sort recyclables and cause the whole process to shut down.

Recycling

  • Cardboard boxes (ok to leave tape and labels on)
  • Paper gift wrap (foil or glitter-covered wrapping paper belongs in the garbage)

Compost

  • Holiday trees, wreaths, and greenery, as long as all decorations, wire, etc., have been removed first. (Fake or “flocked” trees or greenery should go in the garbage.)

Reduce and reuse before you recycle

Getting rid of holiday decorations or gifts you don’t love? Donate them to one of Ada County’s many non-profit thrift stores or offer them for free to neighbors via Nextdoor or other social media.

Weather delays

In case of snow or ice, leave your bins at the curb. Republic Services will come as soon as they can.