Post-holiday garbage: 'We see an increase in everything'

It is four days after Christmas, and Kathleen Barsoum is standing in front of a 20-foot tall wall of old pop cans, water bottles, sour cream tubs and plastic fruit trays.

Barsoum is the co-ordinator of waste management at the Region of Waterloo, and the post-holiday season is one of her busiest times of year.

"We see an increase in everything," said Barsoum in an interview.

"I have to say I think that the highest category, if I was to choose one…it probably is mixed paper in December…so that’s fires, wrapping paper, and in early January it would probably be plastic containers, plastic number one, plastic number two.”

Barsoum took us on a tour of the Region's recycling plant, landfill and drop-off area. In the photo gallery above, you'll see what happens to the garbage you take to the curbside once a week.