The holidays are a time for giving, but did you know that more waste is generated during this season than at any other time of year? Here are some tips on how to give, decorate, and entertain during the holiday season while still keeping the environment in mind.
- Give memories
- Experiences and memberships
- Event tickets
- Quality time
- Give the gift of your time
- Share your skills
- Offer tutorials and lessons to teach a skill
- Care activities: chores, lawnmowing, childcare
- Upcycle / make a gift
- Refinish small furnishings
- Repurpose old toys
- Put a basket together
- Baking / canning
- Crafting
- Plant cuttings
- Sew / crochet / knit
- Regifting an item that no longer serves you but is still in good condition
- Choose secondhand
- Find gifts online: Kijiji / Marketplace /EBay / Buy Nothing Groups
- Search antique shops and thrift stores
- Hand-me-downs
- Try thrifting decorations
- When purchasing new
- Practical goods
- Support local
- Look for items with less packaging
- Gift wrapping tips and tricks
- Upcycle newspaper / magazines as gift wrap
- Wrap in a teatowel, dishcloth, or scarf (two gifts in one!)
- Use fabric scraps
- Re-use gift bags or tote bags
- Use newspaper or magazines as tissue paper
- Re-use tissue paper
- Save ribbon and string scraps to make bows
After the holiday
Christmas Tree Collection
Natural Christmas trees will be picked up on your regular green cart collection day/week. Remove all plastic, tinsel, ornaments, metal rings, nails, stands, lights and wires. Trees cannot be in a bag.
Composting
- Greenery (boughs, garland, and wreaths) that are free of decorations, wires, tinsel, ornaments, mental rings, etc. can be composted or mulched.
- Paper plates and paper napkins go in the green cart
- All food waste including chips, candy and chocolate, belongs in the green cart
Garbage
- Wreaths with metal wires or plastic cord go in a clear garbage bag
- Foil wrapping paper, glittery wrapping paper, gift bags, bows, and ribbon that are no longer able to be reused go in the garbage
- Cards with glitter and foil go in the garbage
- Artificial trees that are no longer useful or cannot be donated can go in the garbage
Paper Recycling
- Paper gift wrap and boxboard (cereal-type boxes) can be recycled with your other paper recycling
- Corrugated cardboard is bundled and placed next to paper recycling
- Cards without glitter or foil can be recycled with other paper
Upcycling and Reusing
- Save gift wrap, bows, ribbons, cards etc. for use next year
- Give old toys and clothing to a charitable organization instead of throwing them away
- Host a clothing swap after the holidays to renew and refresh your wardrobe
- Changing the colour scheme of decorations can be done with a bit of paint instead of buying new
Wasting less around the holidays
