• Glass, aluminum, steel and narrow-neck plastic food and beverage containers (e.g., soda, water, juice, milk, eggnog, and cider containers). Aluminum and plastic beverage containers can be flattened to save space in the cart.

• Paperboard boxes used to package food and beverages such as crackers, cookies, cereal, pasta, soda/juice cans, juice boxes, hot chocolate packets and other convenience foods. Flatten these to maximize space in the recycling cart.

• Gift boxes, shoe boxes and corrugated cardboard boxes. Be sure to break down the boxes so that they fit completely inside the cart.

• Holiday cards, letters, magazines, store catalogs, gift wrap tubes, newsprint and packing paper. All of these paper products are acceptable in the County's expanded single-stream recycling program.

Reuse whenever possible. If you're replacing old toys, clothing or household items with new ones or decluttering after the holidays, remember the old adage: One man's trash is another man's treasure. Gently used books, toys, clothing and household items are always welcomed by local thrift shops or charitable organizations. And donating goods keeps useful items out of the landfill.

Properly dispose of the rest. What's left of your waste after you've recycled and reused should fit nicely into the County's 96-gallon EZGo waste cart. Miami-Dade solid waste customers are reminded that excess garbage will not be picked up from the curbside. Extra bags and waste placed on top of or alongside the cart cannot be collected by the automated waste collection vehicle.

For additional recycling and waste management tips, visit the Department's website at www.miamidade.gov/dswm .

(*The DSWM provides curbside waste collection and recycling services to single-family residents in the unincorporated service area and the cities of Aventura, Cutler Bay, Doral, Miami Gardens, Miami Lakes, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Sunny Isles Beach and Sweetwater. Curbside recycling services are also provided to the cities of El Portal, Florida City, Medley, Miami Beach, Miami Springs, North Bay Village, Opa-Locka, South Miami, Sunny Isles, Surfside, West Miami and Virginia Gardens.)