It’s that time of year again when decorations come out, and the Christmas spirit is in the air! However, this holiday season comes with a lot of waste that needs to be disposed of properly. As we become more conscious of our environmental impact, finding eco-friendly ways to dispose of your holiday waste is essential. These 8 tips will help you reduce holiday waste, save money, and positively impact the environment. 

1. Recycling Your Gift Wrapping Paper

One of the most common wastes generated during the holiday season is gift-wrapping paper. Americans use approximately 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper each year. Unfortunately, gift-wrapping paper is thrown away after the holidays and usually ends up in landfills. 

Recycling your gift wrapping paper is a straightforward way to dispose of your gift wrapping paper. Rip your gift-wrapping paper into small strips, put it in a paper recycling bin, and you’ve diverted your gift-wrapping paper from the landfill! 

2. Recycling Boxes

After the Christmas season, many people find themselves with extra boxes from their gifts. One way to dispose of them is to recycle the containers. Most recycling centers will accept cardboard boxes, so this is a quick and easy way to get rid of them. 

You can also donate the boxes to a local charity or thrift store. Many organizations are always in need of containers for packaging donations or storage. You could also reuse the boxes for other purposes around the house. You can use packages to organize closets, store seasonal items, or even craft projects.

Whatever you do with your extra boxes, remember to put the boxes in a secure place, as thieves are on the go to find valuables inside those packs. Store them in the garage or balcony as you wait to do away with them.  

3. Reusing Your Christmas Decorations

When deciding what decorations to buy, it’s essential to consider whether or not you can reuse them. You don’t need to replace reusable decorations every year. Instead of buying decorations you’ll use for one holiday, buy those you can utilize year after year. This way, you’ll reduce waste and save money!

4. Composting Food Waste

You can compost and turn food waste into valuable fertilizer for the soil. It will help your garden grow bigger and better! You can do it outside if you have a backyard or live in a warm climate. But if you don’t have a backyard or live in a cold environment, you can compost your food waste indoors in a compost bin. Just gather your Christmas food scraps, put them in a compost bin, and that’s it! 

5. Repurposing Christmas Cards

When you receive Christmas cards, you might be tempted to throw them away after you’ve read them. You can reuse your Christmas cards as gift tags, in scrapbooks, as gift wrapping paper, or even as decorations. 

Again, there are many creative ways to repurpose your Christmas cards, like donating them to an organization. Also, other charities collect Christmas cards and donate them to hospitals, nursing homes, and charity organizations. It is a great way to help others and repurpose your cards simultaneously.

6. Re-gifting

Some people receive gifts they probably didn’t like or need during the holiday season. Instead of throwing these unwanted gifts in the trash, you can re-gift them. Re-gifting is the practice of giving someone a gift that you’ve received. The item may not be valuable to you but may benefit someone else. 

7. Handling Old Electronics

You probably have old electronics that are just collecting dust in your homes. Finding efficient ways to dispose of them correctly is essential because some may contain harmful materials like mercury. Many people put their electronics in the trash, where they end up in landfill and cause severe damage. 

Companies like Amazon are willing to trade in for any other electronic of worth. Furthermore, your outdated technology can help a lot of deserving not-for-profit groups. As the saying goes, charity comes with its reward, so earn yours!

8. Disposing of Christmas Tree

Infinite Disposal offers Christmas tree disposal services to make it easy for you. Here are a few other ways to for disposing of the tree:

1. Composting 

The tree will help break down other organic materials in the bin, resulting in nutrient-rich compost for your garden.

2. Use the Tree to Create New Decorations

You can slice, bend, and mold an old synthetic tree into a pretty garland or wreath with a little imaginative artistry. You can also use it to create a tabletop centerpiece or a set of napkin ring holders.

3. Recycling 

There are many locations throughout Colorado Springs where you can drop off your tree to be chipped into mulch or used for habitat restoration projects.

4. Leave the Tree Out for Collection on Trash Day 

Some municipalities offer tree disposal assistance as part of their standard waste collection services. Also, Infinite Disposal can come to pick the tree up for disposal or recycling. Call us in advance so we can schedule the pickup day. 

5. Burning 

Some people opt to cut up their Christmas tree and use it for firewood. A great solution if you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove. 

6. Donating

If your tree is still in good condition, you can donate it to a local nursing home, assisted living facility, or other organization that could use some holiday cheer.

7. Replant the Tree(If It’s Natural)

If you purchased your tree with the roots attached, you could replant it. Replanting a tree might be challenging, but it is doable with proper planning.

Dependable Waste Service with Infinite Disposal

The holidays are a time of joy and good cheer. So, let’s start a new year by implementing eco-friendly ways to dispose of this holiday’s waste! Whether that means using a curbside pickup, donating it, or reusing it. 

Infinite Disposal offers various waste disposal services to suit your needs, and our team of experts is always available to help you choose the best option for your situation. Call us at (719) 999-0500 to schedule a pickup day.