Eco-Friendly Holiday Recycling: Simple Ways to Reduce Waste and Wrap Sustainably This Season

Smart recycling habits, low-waste gift wrap ideas, and easy ways to make your holidays greener.

The holiday season brings joy, celebration, and—let’s be honest—a surprising amount of waste. From piles of wrapping paper to shipping boxes, gift packaging, and decorations, it’s easy for the trash bins to fill faster than the cookie trays. The good news is that greener holiday recycling options are completely within reach. With a few simple recycling habits, mindful choices about what materials you use, and creative eco-friendly wrapping options, you can significantly reduce waste without sacrificing any festive charm. Whether you’re wondering how to recycle, where to take items like lights or trees, or which wrapping materials are truly sustainable, this guide will walk you through practical, planet-friendly ways to keep the season merry—and mindful.

HOW to Recycle During the Holidays

• Sort before tossing
  Separate cardboard, paper, plastics, and metals right after opening gifts so everything stays clean and recyclable.

• Flatten boxes
  Amazon boxes (check out their second chance program), toy packaging, and shipping materials recycle best when broken down and flattened.

• Remove non-recyclables
  Glitter paper, metallic paper, ribbons, bows, tape, and plastic-coated wrap cannot be recycled. Remove as much as you can from cardboard or bags before placing them in the bin.

• Reuse before recycling
  Save tissue paper, gift bags, boxes, and packing materials for next year. Most of these items can survive several seasons.

WHERE to Recycle Holiday Items

• Local curbside pickup
  Most cities accept cardboard, uncoated paper, and certain plastics.

• Community recycling centers
  Great for large loads like broken lights, electronics, or excess packaging.

• Drop-off locations for Christmas lights
  Home Depot, Lowe’s, and ACE Hardware often have bins for old or broken holiday lights.

• Tree recycling / mulching programs
  Many towns offer free mulching days where real trees are turned into landscaping mulch. (Remove ornaments + tinsel first!)

• Electronics recycling
  If you upgraded TVs, tablets, or devices, take old electronics to certified e-waste recycling centers—most big-box stores accept them.

🌿 Eco-Friendly Wrapping Options

• Kraft paper
  Plain brown paper is recyclable, compostable, and customizable with stamps, paint, or natural twine.

• Fabric wraps (Furoshiki style)
  Use scarves, napkins, or fabric squares that become part of the gift.

• Newspaper comics / magazine pages
  Fun, free, zero-waste wrapping.

• Reusable gift bags
  Cloth bags, canvas totes, or recycled-paper bags can be used year after year.

• Old maps, sheet music, or book pages
  Unique and recyclable as long as they’re uncoated.

• Toppers from nature
  Replace plastic bows with sprigs of pine, cinnamon sticks, dried oranges, or rosemary.

• Recycled-content wrapping paper
  Look for labels that say “100% post-consumer recycled.” These are fully recyclable.

Tip: Recycled wrapping paper is easy to find once you know where to look. Many big-box stores carry uncoated, post-consumer recycled paper during the holidays, and it’s usually labeled clearly so you can spot it quickly. Craft stores often stock brown Kraft rolls, recycled prints, and reusable wrap options that work for any style. You can also shop small: online marketplaces and local makers offer wrapping made from reclaimed materials like old maps, book pages, and newsprint. Holiday markets and community fairs are another great place to find handmade, eco-friendly paper. Even grocery stores now carry recycled gift bags and tissue paper in their seasonal aisles.

The holidays naturally come with extra packaging and decorations, but a few small choices can make everything feel a little easier to manage. Whether you reuse what you already have, pick wrapping options that can be recycled, or drop off items at local programs, there are plenty of easy ways to keep things tidy and low-waste. Do what works for you, enjoy the season, and let the rest fall into place.