Your Guide To Eco-Friendly Post-Holiday Measures

The holidays are over, which means there are likely some big changes in store for your home. When Christmas is over, the trees come down, the lights go away, and the gifts all need to find some place to go. While reorganizing your home and putting decor back in storage, there are small ways to keep things green around your home. Check out this list of tricks to try to be as eco-friendly as possible after all the holiday chaos!

Compost Your Christmas Tree
Did you know that it’s possible to sustainably dispose of your Christmas tree? There are so many ways to put this organic matter to work. You can strip the pine needles and have them added to your personal compost. You can make coasters with trivets from your tree’s trunk. You can strip the branches and use the wood for a fire pit in your backyard. You can chip it and use the mulch as a compost or decoration for your garden beds. Or you can learn what your local community’s green waste scheme is! Just remember to be mindful about how and where you dispose of your tree so it doesn’t go to a dump where it can’t biodegrade.

Save Gift Bags, Tissue, and Ribbons
Why buy new holiday gift bags every year? They’re expensive! Take the ones given to you this year and neatly fold them, storing them in a bin or box for next year’s gift. Ribbons are also perfect for future use, if even just to add more festive flare to a present. Fold all tissue paper neatly and stack it so you can pull from it not just for Christmas, but birthdays and other holidays. Your future self (and the planet) will thank you for preventing unnecessary purchases.

Recycle Excess Cardboard And Paper 
When getting rid of wrappings that you can’t resume, be sure to recycle what’s recyclable. Glossy wrapping paper is recyclable in most areas unless it has plastic or glitter additives! Cardboard boxes can be broken down and recycled per usual. Or you can use these boxes to store all of your holiday decorations when you take them down!

Clean And Store Ornaments And Decor With Care
Don’t bank on buying new ornaments and decor next year. Care for your existing materials by taking the time to clean ornaments and other decor before carefully storing them in a cool, dry place. You can even use some of the tissue paper from your gifts to cushion more fragile ornaments and glassware! Plastic and paper cups work great for individual ornament storage. Changing your mindset to taking care of the things you currently have will save you money and work to reduce your overall carbon footprint.

Save And Care For Your Current Lights
It’s tempting to toss unruly strands of lights when deconstructing your tree and outdoor holiday displays. But as a general rule of thumb, you shouldn’t throw away lights that are still fully operational! Take the time to store your lights in an organized manner, and you can enjoy them for at least one more year. If your lights are broken and you know you’ll need to replace them next year, try to purchase higher-quality lights that you know will last longer.

Dive Into Your Stash Of Holiday Treats And Leftovers
Don’t wait to enjoy leftover dishes and treats! If you don’t indulge in early January, you’ll lose your taste for anything holiday-themed. Enjoying them as soon as possible is generally the best way to make sure nothing goes to waste.

Donate Unwanted Gifts
Did you get something that’s totally not to your taste? We’ve all been there. Chances are, someone else will enjoy it–especially if it’s at a discount! Take stock of the things you know you won’t use, and donate them to your local thrift store or shelter. There’s no point in keeping things that will just take up space, and you definitely don’t want to throw away things that someone else could use. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure!

…Or Save Them To Regift Next Year!
There’s no shame in regifting! Keep a box of things you don’t love, and be sure to not open them. In a year, you can pass them on to someone else or use them in a White Elephant/Rob Your Neighbor party. Just be sure to note who gave you the unwanted gift so you don’t accidentally give it right back to them!