While we take some necessary time to celebrate family, friends, and life during this holiday season, lets not forget to also celebrate the planet that provides for us all!
A Holiday Fact to Keep in Mind
- During the holiday season, about 25% more waste is generated by Americans between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve.
- This means an extra 25 million tons of waste is created, or about 1 million extra tons per week.
It doesn’t have to be that way!
- While its easy to get lost in the shopping and gifting hustle that is often connected with the holidays, don’t let that change your sustainability mindset.
- There are more sustainable ways to celebrate the holidays!
- Voting with your dollar is just as important during the holidays as it is during your day to day life
Check out these ideas and tips for a more Green Holiday season!
- Green Gift Ideas
- Experiences make great gifts
- Give durable items that will last
- Gift things you can enjoy, use, and/or grow
- Find gifts that reduce waste
- Books… yup, just books!
- Rechargeable electronics
- Homemade gifts always have special touch and usually far less waste
- A gift you can “use up” leaves minimal waste behind (hint: candles, soap)
- ReGift... Don’t be afraid
- Eco Friendly Wrapping Ideas
- Newspaper
- Scrap fabric
- Reusable gift bags
- Pages from magazines
- Reusable decorative tins or baskets
- Old Maps
- Sustainable Decorations
- Use a live tree to prevent the need for plastic trees to be created
- Decorations from compostable items (popcorn, dried cranberries, etc)
- LED string lights
- DIY Gift Cards
- Old record sleeves
- Cereal boxes
- Anything with a folded corner made from paperboard
- Old postcards
- Collages
- Artwork from you or a friend
Tricky Items to Recycle during the Holidays
- Block Foam (#6 PS)
- Take to CHaRM or the Longmont Waste Diversion Center
- Or find a local recycler in your community
- DO NOT put in your curbside recycling bin
- Holidays Trees (natural)
- Wrapping Paper
- Some communities offer seasonal wrapping paper recycling options during the holidays
- Wrapping paper has a high clay content and a low fiber content, so it is considered a contaminate and is NOT RECYCLABLE
- Holiday Lights
- Check with our local community recycler to see if they offer season holiday light recycling
EcoCycle Holiday Guide
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A great resource for Boulder County holiday recycling and waste reduction tips!
Longmont Waste Diversion Center
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Offers holiday specific recycling, as well as year round options for hard to recycle items
Zero Waste... Did You Know?
Check out our other Zero Waste articles!
- General Zero Waste info and news
- Facts, concepts, and opinions from CU students, faculty, and staff
- Industry news and policy
- Zero Waste Lifestyle and DIY ideas