How To Reduce Your Waste During The Holidays
The holiday season is upon us, which means so are the gift boxes, rolls of wrapping paper, and heaps of festive decorations. Though this is a time for celebration, we often open up last year’s storage containers to find ornaments and lights that simply need replacing.
Luckily, there are many viable ways of approaching this waste-heavy time of year with the environment in mind. Damaged holiday lights, piles of Amazon boxes, and even Christmas trees have excellent recycling and upcycling options. Below are some simple suggestions for minimizing waste and reinventing your holiday supplies both at the start and the end of the holiday season.
Christmas Trees
When it comes time to take down the Christmas tree, wreaths, and other natural decorations, there are several options for recycling and composting. First, be sure to remove all debris, lights, and tinsel to ensure a smooth recycling transition. Depending on the town’s municipal services, residents have the option to either leave the tree on the curb for pickup on a designated day or bring it to a special collection center nearby. If neither option is available, explore local non-profits or Boy Scout troupes in your area that will arrange the pickup for a small donation.
Using a fake tree this year? Consider upcycling the pliable branches into alternate decorations for next year, such as festive garlands or wreaths. A local thrift store may also be seeking these reusable trees for resale.
String Lights
It’s common to go through at least several worn-out strands of lights each year. When a string is unfixable, consider sending the lights to a special disposal center for appropriate and eco-friendly recycling. Check out these thorough directions and addresses for shipping both here and here.
Holiday Cards
Once these festive greetings have graced your home for a season, consider passing them on to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. The organization accepts both new and used greeting cards for all occasions. Donations raised from the refurbished cards both support the organization’s generous programming and give your recycled cards new life. Be sure to check out their card requirements and shipping instructions. There are also many exciting ways to upcycle these festive displays into new crafts and decorations. Check out these suggestions, which include mason jar toppers, collages, and bunting.
Amazon Boxes and Shipping Materials
It’s easy for boxes, both from Amazon and other popular gift websites, to begin piling up as the holidays approach. In most towns, cardboard is widely accepted in your usual paper recycling bins for curbside pick-up. These boxes are also ideal for moving and can be set aside for friends beginning the packing process. Additionally, plastic packing materials, especially the inflated strips of padding, can be recycled with #2 plastics.
Wrapping Paper
A little bit of pre-holiday planning can significantly decrease your carbon footprint. When purchasing wrapping paper, check out the recycling message on the packaging. Paper with foils and embellishments are often not accepted in curbside pickup, but it is still helpful to check out this helpful recycling tool to determine its proper destination. Choosing basic paper without glitter or shiny additions will allow easy disposal during post-holiday cleanup.
Decorations
Decorations are often more reusable than recyclable, but it depends on the material. Wood and some plastics can be recycled curbside. Ceramic statues and ornaments, however, cannot be placed in recycling bins, but can be turned into many beautiful upcycled crafts—such as mosaics—or donated to a local thrift store for someone else’s home. When purchasing new decorations, consider your long-term plan with their disposal and reuse.
Mindful Gift Giving
Help others with their recycling effort by choosing gifts that include little-to-no waste. Gift cards, tickets, or donations to a charity in their name are all thoughtful and experiential ways to show you care this holiday season. There are also many fun ways to get creative with handmade cards and wrapping paper from recycled materials.
Waste Less This Season
It may be close to impossible to have a zero-waste holiday, but mindful, eco-friendly progress is always about small, practical steps. With a little foresight and a bit of planning, it’s simple to significantly cut down your holiday carbon footprint and utilize a list of available recycling offerings.