How to reduce your waste this holiday season
The process of buying gifts and then wrapping and unwrapping them creates an enormous amount of waste each season. Oftentimes, that waste can’t be recycled either, as is the case with most gift-wrapping paper.
If you’re looking to scale back how much waste your household produces this holiday, then look no further. We have some ideas for you.
Reuse used wrapping paper
Old wrapping paper can be used to add festive covers to notebooks, create custom made confetti, or as lining for shelves and the inside of drawers. Just be careful not to tear the paper too much when unwrapping your gifts!
Ditch the wrapping paper
entirely
Instead of opting for wrapping paper, try wrapping your gifts in something reusable, like a patterned piece of fabric or a scarf. You could also make a point to wrap your gift boxes in materials you’re sure can be recycled, such as this newspaper. Pre-made gift boxes and bags can also be used year after year – you can store them with all the holiday decorations you already take out each year.
Buy good-quality
decorations
It can be tempting to choose the cheapest Christmas lights and tree ornaments when shopping, but we all know how often items like these tend to be thrown out. Hooks often fall from cheap tree balls, and entire sections of light strands might unexpectedly stop working. It’s worth it to invest a bit more in your decorations.
You could also take the effort to repair broken items when possible or hand craft your own ornaments with durability in mind.
Save your Christmas cards
You could store them in a box and reread them years later. You might also see a way to incorporate them into arts and crafts projects, like collages, or in making your own homemade ornaments. The possibilities are really endless.
Regift
It can be tempting to just throw out gifts you don’t like. Instead of getting rid of them, see if there’s someone else you know who might appreciate the present. You could also donate items to a local church, food bank, or thrift shop.
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Proper disposal
Old electronics like lights can contain materials that are harmful to the environment. Make sure to throw them out the right way. Items like these can be brought to Waste Management’s Transfer Depot on Seaway Road. Old Christmas trees are also accepted there.
