With the holiday season just around the corner, we start thinking about what presents to buy, what savory foods to make, and how to top last year’s festivities. But do we stop to think about the waste all this generates? Do we even consider all that wrapping paper, the ribbons, and the presents we give and get, but just can’t find a use for? Holiday cards alone generate enough paper waste to fill entire football fields! So how can we keep holiday waste out of landfills? Here are a few useful tips.

Gifts:
Finding the right gift for the right person can turn into a nightmare. You venture into a shop, you see something you like, and suddenly your mind is wreaked with doubts: Will they like the color? will it fit? and the dreaded, will they use it? You can save yourself a headache, and be green about it, by choosing nonmaterial presents. You can purchase carbon offset credits, or make donations to a charity on behalf of a person you love. You can buy tickets to a sporting event, play, or concert, or offer your services.

If you do go for material possessions, you can still maintain your eco values by choosing gifts that are made with recycled or less harmful content, and buying local (which will cut down on emissions involved in shipping). Gift certificates are another great option. You know the gifts will be kept, because your loved ones will be picking them out themselves. You can also make things with recycled materials, or, if you know how, knit. If you’re thinking of buying electronics, avoid those that require batteries, or include rechargeable batteries with your gift.

Whatever you choose, remember to take your own reusable bag when going shopping, and just say no when the sales clerk offers you plastic.

Gift wrapping:
There are tons of ways to avoid the piles of wrapping paper and ribbons that remain after all the presents have been opened. You can decorate old shoe boxes and use them as decorative packages, purchase gift bags that can be reused the following year, or use colorful fabric to wrap presents. Be creative. Hang jewelry on the Christmas tree, and instead of wrapping the big presents, make a treasure hunt: hide the present somewhere in the house, and give the person clue cards to find it.

If you use traditional gift wrapping, buy the recycled kind, with high postconsumer content. If you get presents wrapped in store-bought paper, then save it for next year. Do the same with ribbons.

Holiday cards:
The greeting card is a time-honored tradition, where we send our holiday wishes of love and joy to all those far away. Unfortunately, sending paper cards creates paper waste and carbon emissions. An eco-friendlier choice would be electronic cards, or recycled-content cards and envelopes.

If you receive any cards this year, use them as bookmarks and tree ornaments or to make decorative collages, bookmarks, or gift tags.

Leftovers:
The holidays are synonymous with lavish meals with more food than we could eat in a month. We find, year after year, that we can’t possible eat all those treats, even if we want to and even though we try. So what do we often do? We throw that food away. Maybe not the next day, but in the week that follows the festivities. Instead, we could donate all that food (remember, it’s probably a month’s worth) to a shelter.

With these tips, you can make your holiday season all the more memorable and fulfilling by coloring it green.