Holidays & Events
Waste Less Events
Celebrations don’t have to be wasteful. By avoiding cheap, disposable items you can add class and charm to any event and save money by avoiding needless purchases and disposal.
Send digital invites through email or use a free invite cloud-based program. If you still feel the need to send invites, choose recycled, post-consumer paper and envelopes and send with an old fashioned lick and stick stamp. Refrain from choosing glitter, embellished bows, or tags or foil stamped papers since these can’t be recycled.
Be realistic in how much food to serve. Use this dinner party calculator to keep guests full and happy while reducing excess food waste. Now is the time to take out the china, dishware, metal utensils, and fabric napkins. Items listed as compostable plastics cannot be composted in Marion County so save your cash.
Use natural decorations like plants, fruits, and vegetables.
Raid the recycling bin for cardboard, tp tubes, and other things you can upcycle into decorations like hats, banners, or signs.
Use fabric pennants that can be stored and used for years to come.
Reduce for a Low-Stress Holiday Season
When you envision your favorite holiday, what is it that you enjoy the most? Is it family, friends, or food? Is it the time spent together, the slowness of the season, or the building of memories? We encourage you to pause and reflect on what is meaningful to you.
Sometimes the holidays can be exhausting, piled high with shopping and frenzied spending. All of that spending not only has an effect on our mental health but also our waste stream. Americans throw away 25% more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year's holiday period than any other time of year. The extra waste amounts to 25 million tons of garbage or about 1 million extra tons per week!
Choose to reduce this holiday season and make room for the things that matter most.
Make Memories, Not Trash. Celebrations don't have to be wasteful or costly. Check out this list of 50 things you can give that is more about the experience and low on waste.
Want to make fun, easy gifts that show you care? Check out our 12 Days of Reuse series.
