Reduce Waste During the Holiday Season

Posted on November 29, 2018

Reducing waste this holiday season begins with thoughtful shopping and gift giving. Please remember to shop smart and waste less this holiday season.

Give an Experience

Give friends and family members a memorable and personalized gift that requires little or no packaging.

  • Tickets to the theater, ballet or symphony
  • Concert or movie passes
  • Membership to a museum
  • A gourmet meal cooked at home
  • A certificate for babysitting, gardening, or cleaning the house or car.

Sustainable Gift Wrap

When wrapping your holiday gifts, instead of purchasing a new roll of wrapping paper and ribbon, consider these alternatives:

  • Gift bags or reusable shopping bags
  • Tins or baskets
  • Old maps, newspaper or magazine pages
  • Holiday fabrics
  • Bows and paper from previous holidays

Never Burn Wrapping Paper!

It is illegal to burn trash and wrapping paper. If you must use wrapping paper, always purchase non-foil-based paper and remember to toss it in your recycling bin, or save and reuse it next holiday season. Remember that bows, ribbons and wrapping papers that contain glitter or velvet surface treatments are not recyclable. These items go directly to the landfill, so avoid purchasing them if you can.

Don’t Trash your Tree

At the end of the holiday season, make sure your tree ends up in the compost pile, not the landfill. Click here for details on what to do.

Zero Waste Marin works with cities and towns throughout Marin County to educate residents about reducing the amount of waste that goes into our local landfills. Click HERE to download a copy of this newsletter.