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How to Give Gifts in an Eco-Friendlier Way This Holiday Season
Discover simple tips for more sustainable holiday gift-giving so you can help reduce waste this festive season.Byline: BTB Editor
November 20, 2024 / Time to read: 5 minThe holidays may be the most wonderful time of year, but they’re also the most wasteful. With parties, decorations, gift giving and travel, Americans generate 23% more waste in December compared to other months of the year, according to a
But, we have good news: Much of what is thrown away during the holidays can be recycled or repurposed. And? Consumers are wising up to more sustainable gift choices during the holidays. According to the same report, 67% of respondents said they're likely or very likely to consider the environmental impacts of a gift before purchasing it (up from 74% in 2005) and 90% of respondents say they wish the holidays were less materialistic.
To help you incorporate some easy environmentally responsible practices into your gift exchanges, we've rounded up a few of our favorite tips.
Simple But Effective Holiday Gift Recycling Tips
“Many of us want to be better recyclers during the holidays, but we aren’t sure how or just don't have the time,” said Pete Keller, vice president of recycling and sustainability at Republic Services. “With a few simple steps during the holidays, we can all do our part to make environmentally responsible choices throughout the holiday season and help make a positive impact in our communities for generations to come.” One way to improve your holiday recycling game is to make a few simple changes to the way you gift.
Go off list
Consider getting a little creative with your gift-giving this year. Beyond recycling existing gifts — regifting doesn't have to be a bad thing! — consider using materials you already have to make something special. If you're not much of a crafter or upcycler, you can also opt for experience gifts like cooking classes, adventure activities or walking tours.
Hang on to gift supplies
Save and reuse gift bags, ribbons and bows for next year. It’s smart for the environment and your wallet.
Ship smarter
Shipping gifts? Make shredded paper out of old newspapers and magazines, or reuse last year’s bubble wrap and foam peanuts.
Opt for recyclable wrapping choices
Think twice when it comes to the type of wrapping paper you buy. Standard wrapping paper can be recycled, but anything with glitter or foil belongs in the trash (unless you choose to save it for next year). Generally, the fancier the wrapping paper, the less recyclable it is.
Recycle all those boxes
If you don't have another purpose for them, make sure to
Keep these recycling reminders in mind
- The most common holiday materials contaminating the recycling stream include: bubble wrap, cellophane, holiday ribbons and bows, batteries, food waste, clothing and shoes, holiday lights, electronics and foam peanuts. All these items should be placed in a waste container, not recycled.
- Toy packaging made of heavy cardboard is not recyclable unless the cardboard is separated from the plastic.
- Sticky gift tags are not recyclable by themselves, but they are acceptable so long as they're attached to an envelope or wrapping paper.
No Time Like the Present
Whether you've started rounding up gifts for your loved ones or not, there's no time like the present to learn how to gift in a more sustainable way. Every reused ribbon counts! For more tips on recycling during the holidays see our
