Tips for Reducing Waste This Holiday Season

by Jan Lloyd, Zero Waste Events and Outreach Coordinator

​Are you ready to reduce your waste this holiday season? Here are easy ways that you can aim for Zero Waste this year – from holiday parties, simple gifts that cut down on packaging, to wrapping gifts beautifully with no messy, wasteful pre-purchased wrapping paper.

Having a holiday party? Here are four ways to reduce waste at your holiday event:

1. We now have waste sorting bins (recycling, compost, bottles, and trash) that you can borrow for FREE – check out the options and reserve online today!
2. Use reusable (avoid disposable) plates, cutlery, cups, and linens – we have settings for up to 200 in our Zero Waste Event Kit program! Available for a sliding scale fee of $15-75.
3. Send your guests home with leftovers in reusable take-out containers. Freeze portion-sized containers for leftovers later. Or donate un-served food.
4. Secret Santa? Make it a Yankee Swap! Ask guests to bring non-purchased, reused or re-gifted items instead of buying something new.

 
Gift-giving tends to generate a lot of waste… Here’s some tips to reduce!

1. Give experiences rather than stuff - such gift cards, certificates, and vouchers. Who wouldn’t want a massage, or a trip to the museum, or movie tickets??
2. Get creative with wrapping: Use fancy fabric or (thrifted) silk scarves, maps, your kid’s drawings, National Geographic inserts…etc to wrap your gift.
3. Wrapping paper and bows can be reused easily. Flatten and save for next year! Or better yet … wrap all your gifts with LAST year’s paper, and spruce them up with natural decorations, like sprigs from your tree trimmings, or pine cones.
4. Ripped or crumpled wrapping paper can be recycled with your regular recycling. Avoid using metallic or plastic-coated paper as they are not recyclable. Here's more specifics on recycling wrapping paper rules.
5. Buying local uses less resources AND packaging – Don’t forget to bring your own shopping bags! Ordering online? Reuse or recycle your packaging at the ARCC.

Reduce e-Waste over the holiday season!

1. Use LED lights which last longer and use less energy
2. Dead string lights? Repair them by replacing dead bulbs or recycle old holiday light strings at the ARCC. Check out this video on how to repair your broken string lights.
3. Recycle your old electronics and appliances at the ARCC!
4. Battery operated? Don’t forget when you replace old batteries, you can recycle them!

 
Recycle your Christmas Trees!
Your live Christmas trees can be recycled! Learn about drop-off locations and curbside collections in your area, here.