Happy Holidays from Salinas Valley Recycles

December 2021

Green your Holidays

Whether you are lighting a menorah, decorating a Christmas tree, celebrating the seven core principals during Kwanzaa, or any other reason to celebrate with friends and family this winter, there are ways to make your holiday festive and more sustainable. We have a few tips for you to consider this year.

Refuse

Refuse purchasing things when an experience or quality time gift could be given.
Refuse single use plastics and excess packaging.
Refuse purchasing items without meaning (gifting just to check a box on a list).

Reuse

Shop thrift stores first.
Repurpose or DYI gifts with items you already have.
Re-gift; some think it's taboo but an item being used by someone is always better than never being used.
Use up leftover wrapping paper or create your own from newspapers or shipping paper. Purchase recycled-content wrapping paper when buying new.
Host a "green" elephant gift exchange - no money needs to be spent, items must be something that would be considered a gift/usable and in good condition to someone else.

Reduce

The thought and quality of any gift is more important than the number of packages exchanged.
Do a name draw to reduce the number of gifts purchased.
Reduce food waste with meal planning and proper food storage to keep the taste of holidays going for days.

Recycle

Make sure all of your paper wrapping is recycled (non-metallic paper only, no ribbons or bows).
Recycle bottles and cans from gatherings.
Recycle boxes.

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