The holidays are a time for giving, but did you know that up to 25% more waste is generated during this season then at any other time of the year? Here are some tips on how to give this holiday season and still keep the environment in mind.

After The Holidays..

• Natural Christmas trees will be picked up with your green cart during organics collection week.  They must be free of plastic, tinsel, ornaments, metal rings, nails, stands and plastic tree-bags.

• Compost or mulch your greenery (boughs, tree etc..)

• Wreaths with metal wire frame or plastic cord go in your garbage bag.

• Paper gift wrap free of ribbons, bows and ornaments should be placed in a grocery bag for recycling.

• Non-paper gift wrap and foil wrap cannot be recycled and they should be placed in your garbage bag.

• Corrugated cardboard should be bundled and placed beside your blue bag.

• Boxboard (shoe and cereal type boxes) should be placed in your green cart

• 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.

Think Outside the Box

• Give Tickets to a play, movie or sporting event
• Gift certificate for dinner, club membership or spa treatment are always popular
• Offer a service such as babysitting, breakfast in bed, or a piano lesson

Make a Gift

• Fresh baked cookies or bread
• Make a calendar or a handmade book from recycled paper
• Make Christmas ornaments from burnt-out light bulbs or other waste materials

Wrap with Reusable Materials

• Baskets, glass jar, cookie tin, reusable gift bag, tea towels
• Decorate an old shoe box
• Make the wrapping part of the gift
• Reuse wrapping paper, tissue paper, gift bags, etc. from last year

Make Gift Wrap, Cards and Gift Tags

• Use comics, old maps or magazines
• Decorate newsprint, scrap paper or leftover tissue paper with rubber stamps, paint or potato-stamps
• Use old gift wrap and other materials to make tags, cards and envelopes
• Decorate old shoe boxes instead of buying new gift boxes
• Make gift bags from old material scraps
• Decorate with pine cones, dried berries or flowers collected outside

Decorate with Reusable or Compostable Materials

• Buy a quality reusable Christmas tree
• Use decorations that will last a long time
• Decorate with potted plants that will bring enjoyment after the holidays
• Make decorations from reusable or compostable materials
  • Garland using popcorn and berries
• Cut out fun shapes from cereal boxes to paint and hang on the tree

Avoid Disposables When Entertaining

• Use reusable plates, cutlery, etc. when entertaining
• Use cloth napkins instead of paper
• If you must use disposable items, choose paper over plastic and remember to compost the paper products

Phone or Email Holiday Greetings and Wishes

• Call or email invitations to party guests instead of sending paper invitations
• Search the web for cards that can be sent by email, or make your own using word processing software

Reduce Mailing Waste

• Reuse cardboard boxes for mailing gifts.
• Use air-popped popcorn and newspaper instead of styrofoam packing chips
• Mailing gift certificates or tickets will save on packaging and postage

Give Gifts that promote Environmental Responsibility

• Backyard Composter or worm composter
• Reusable food containers or lunch bags
• Donation to an environmental organization or charity
• Diaper Service
• Bus Pass
• Clothing made from unbleached cotton or recycled pop bottles
• Reusable coffee mug
• Recycled content stationery, paper products, office products, etc.
• Environmentally-friendly bath and beauty products

Shop Smart

• When you go shopping, take your own reusable bags
• Avoid purchasing over-packaged goods
• Look for Environmentally-friendly, recyclable or reusable products
• Avoid :
  • Single-use items or gifts with a limited life span
  • Cheaply made gifts
  • Non-recyclable and non-reusable items
  • "Trendy" gifts will lose interest in a short time
  • Gifts that cannot be repaired easily if damage