Eco-Friendly Holiday Tips From Around the Web

The holiday season is here, which means there will be plenty of decorating, gift giving, good food... and waste. 

According to Stanford University Recycling, Americans throw away more from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day than any other time of year, which is about an extra 1 million tons per week! And notes:

• “If every family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet."
• "If every American family wrapped just 3 presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields. The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the U.S. could fill a football field 10 stories high. If we each sent one card less, we’d save 50,000 cubic yards of paper.”

That’s right, as fun as this time of year is, it also has a habit of increasing the amount of waste we produce. So, how do you enjoy the holiday in an eco-friendly way? There are plenty of tips and advice out there on this topic. But don’t worry, we’ve already done the work for you. Below is our list of the best eco-friendly holiday tips from some of our favorite influencers and resources.

Follow the advice below to double your holiday fun while also cutting your waste in half:

Eco Friendly Gift Wrap Ideas from Laura at Reduce Reuse Renew blog
If you have ever struggled with the waste created by holiday wrapping paper, this article has many options to consider - from upcycling, to reusing, to swap parties and more. And even if you still want to purchase gift wrap, there are tips for making the most eco friendly purchases as well as ways to use that wrapping again after it's ripped off. And we loved the idea of reusing greeting cards as gift tags!

Holiday string lights seasonal recycling
Great reminder from Zero Waste Northfield that broken holiday lights can't be recycled curbside, but many locations offer year-round drop off points and even hardware stores and libraries may offer seasonal collections. Check your local state, city and county listed locations to find lists like these for greater Minnesota, Saint Paul, and Hennepin County.

Green Your Holidays
Thank you to Anoka Ramsey Community College for this great article about being mindful about waste during the holidays, including great ideas for reducing waste from food, gifts, packaging, and even travel! We love the idea of shopping second hand for the holidays and hosting a “vintage only” gift exchange.

And, of course, Donate your Good Stuff!
As you open up your holiday dishes, decorations, and even seasonal clothing, remember to take a moment to consider what you no longer use that you could donate to make a difference and declutter at the same time. Check DonateGoodStuff.org for the most up to date needs of nonprofit organizations near you.