‘Tis the season for gift-giving, holiday parties, and family celebrations!  If you're looking for ways to green up this season, you can count on RethinkRecycling.com to provide some great tips for making this a no-waste holiday at your house.

Earth-friendly gifts:

• Don't buy waste. Give thoughtful gifts that mean something; rather than buying something of little value to your friends or family, only invest your time and money in gifts that they will appreciate not ones they'll throw.
• Give an experience. Buy a gift certificate for a class or event that you know they'll love.
• Make coupons for loved ones that they can cash in for a lunch on you, chores around the house, or other favors they would appreciate.
• If buying new, look for gifts and gift wrap that are environmentally friendly, made from recycled products, or that can be reused.
• Use old books, maps, magazines or comics to wrap the gifts you give. This is a great way to personalize-pick a map or magazine that will mean something special to the person you're giving it to.

Reducing waste at holiday parties:

• When hosting, use reusable serving ware rather than plastics or paper.
• Provide recycling receptacles in obvious places for your guests to use.
• Send invitations by e-mail instead of using paper invites.
• Save boxes, packing material, wrapping paper, bows, and gift bags for future use.
• When attending a party, ask for recycling options and encourage your host or hostess to reuse leftover gift-giving materials.

Keep recycling even after the holidays: recycle your tree! Some communities make discarded holiday trees into mulch for use in community parks, or chip and use them as fuel. Visit our Christmas Trees & Holiday Decorations page, our quick notes on No-Waste Holidays from RethinkRecycling, or contact your county or waste hauler for more information.