The Holidays are over and we're back to our routines, but not just yet as we stare at the pile of extra garbage acquired over the last two weeks. I'll help you deal with that in a minute. I'll start by reviewing my grand resolutions from 2005. I had two simple resolutions: "walk more, drive less" and "one in, two out." I did walk more, but probably drove the same.

My "one in, two out" resolution did prove successful until a friend downsized before moving to Hawaii. There were just too many things that I knew I could use or re-gift or share. Lots of friends shared in the bounty and began calling my car the goodwill wagon. So now there are a few more things to go "out." VALCORE's Bookkeeper, Kathy Griffin, has the philosophy: "handle things once." Now that's a tough one for those of us who like to reuse items.

Another friend remodeled her kitchen and now has an "empty drawer" that she is keeping empty. She's even expanded the idea to a empty shelf and an empty drawer in her guest room. Last year brought us a lot more convenient recycling opportunities. The Vacaville Freecycle group started and was shortly followed by our Vallejo/Benicia group and one in Fairfield/Cordelia. If you haven't joined this email service, you are missing out on a great way to share your unwanted items with people who need them.

When you no longer need something, you simply "offer" it to your Freecycle group. When you find something that you want, you contact the "offered" email. After that, it's up to the giver to decide who receives the item and to set up a pickup time. If you need something, you can place a "wanted" email. Join at www.freecycle.org.

My Hawaii-bound friend got hooked on www.craigslist.com and sold a lot of her furniture and tools. I'll give craigslist a spin this spring. I have another friend who swear by www.ebay.com.

Working or non-working computers, televisions and other electronics are now accepted by Goodwill stores throughout the county and Bay Area. Please call ahead to make sure they have room on their donation trucks. Other recycling opportunities are listed on the Solano County Recycling Guide on-line at www.recycle-guide.com.

Now to recycle that "garbage" pile from the holidays. First, If your tree is still up, please continue watering it to prevent it from becoming a fire hazard. You have three recycling choices that I reported on in my last column: Pickup by six nonprofit groups, drop off at VALCORE Recycling (Monday-Saturday, 9am - 4pm), or Vallejo Garbage (Thursday-Saturday, 8am-4pm) or cut up for your yard waste container. VALCORE will accept your extra corrugated cardboard and brown/grey chipboard gift boxes. These boxes along with white gift boxes can also go in your blue curbside bins. Be sure to remove all non-recyclable packing materials such as Styrofoam, bubble or other plastic wrap. Break down your boxes so they will fit in the recycling truck.

Newsprint packing material can go in your blue bin or dropped off at VALCORE. Tissue paper is not recyclable. I suggest you compost it or use as packing material. VALCORE will accept plain wrapping paper, but no fancy, foil paper. No ribbon or bows because it is made from polypropylene (that's plastic to you and me).

Holiday cards can be recycled with your junk mail if they don't have foil or glitter. Please don't include envelopes with the foil inside the flap. Now is the time to get off all those catalog lists. Call the 800 numbers on the catalogs and ask that they remove your name. Most companies now have web sites so you won't be missing out on your favorite items.

You can request that your name be removed from future mailing lists by sending a dated postcard to the following address: Direct Mail Marketing Assoc., Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008. Remember to send all versions of your name including misspelled names. This free service is good for five years. One caveat: it works only for national mail, not local mail, and only for residential addresses, not businesses. Happy New Year.