What RE's (Reduce, Reuse, Renew, Recyle) do you practice during the holiday season?
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ie- RECYCLE Christmas tree, REGIFT old presents etc. Here are 20 more ideas- http://www.sustainword.com/20-tips-for-a-sustainable-holiday/
30 answers
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Here is an article the I wrote a few years back relating to this subject. http://www.sustainword.com/recycling-during-the-holidays/
SawHorse Design Build
on Dec 23, 2011
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My mother loves to send my family new clothes for Christmas, so, after deciding what we can replace, we donate all the "old" (but in good shape) clothes at the local clothes drop.
Dan's of Central Florida, Inc.
on Dec 23, 2011
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That is a great idea Dan! Especially donating while they are still useful.
SawHorse Design Build
on Dec 23, 2011
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Most of my family generally recycles gifts.....by leaving them at the store. For years my brother and sisters would try to figure out a gift for each other and my parents. They had everything they generally needed other than big ticket items on the wish list but not "needed" list. For a few years we ended up exchanging gift cards.... but now we just stopped the gifting and just share in the spirit and gift to our favorite charities... Most of you know mine!
Kevin M. Veler, Law Office of
on Dec 23, 2011
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Like Kevin, I try to cut back on stuff. Start with the reduce part of the mantra, and you never have to get to the reuse or recycle parts. I have finally convinced most of the family to just give gifts to kids, and leave the adults out of it. When I do need adult gifts, I try to do gift cards for restaurants or "experiences," such as a spa visit or a cattle roping lesson (seriously, I gave this last year). That way, nobody gets more stuff, and they get to do something they might not treat themselves to.
3po3
on Dec 23, 2011
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Last year I finally, and with a little arm-twisting, convinced my family to stop giving each other gifts. Instead, we all put the money we would have spent on presents into a family fund, and, after adding to it this season, are taking a trip together to the Canadian Rockies next summer.
Douglas Hunt
on Dec 24, 2011
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I like the way you think Douglas
Harold M
on Dec 24, 2011
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That's a pretty good idea there Douglas, might have to borrow that one!
Dan's of Central Florida, Inc.
on Dec 24, 2011
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SawHorse Design Build
on Dec 24, 2011
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I know this might be amazing to you, but I usually give plants for gifts to my family (except for the grands & ones that live in Canada) My Mother received a Beauty Berry this year and my eldest daughter who is expecting twins in a about a month is receiving two Japanese Maples that she can plant and watch grow as her boys grow up. Plants make GREAT gifts!
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Dec 24, 2011
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Plants do make great gifts Four Seasons. I've given both a dogwood and a stewartia to mark significant births, and this year gave a sister several tea olives for her birthday.
Douglas Hunt
on Dec 25, 2011
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Great idea @Four Seasons! In the past we would give herbs from our garden for gifts. The boys would help make the compost and pot the plants. We need to keep doing this since people will remember your gift year after year.
SawHorse Design Build
on Dec 25, 2011
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We take our live trees to the Parks & Rec in our city. They put them in a chipper & the chips are sent to the County where they give it away for free to be used as mulch.
Debbie H
on Dec 26, 2011
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@Debbie- that is a great idea that everyone else should be doing as well.
SawHorse Design Build
on Dec 26, 2011
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We recycle wrapping paper and boxes gifts come in as well as reuse old boxes and gift bags from previous gifts.
Teresa D
on Dec 26, 2011
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For us the holidays are more about family and food...and the blatant consumerism is best left at the mall. This concept works very well with the adults...but the younger crowd is still pretty attached to "things" Here we try to get practical items such as some warm slippers...new jacket etc. I'm a big fan of books...so these can easily be passed on or re-gifted. We strive for a simpler live as described in this article. http://www.networx.com/article/tips-for-consuming-less http://www.networx.com/article/christmas-at-home-in-colorado
KMS Woodworks
on Dec 26, 2011
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All 4, doing a big remodel and repurpose whenever possible, clothes go to Goodwill, compost to vermicasting worms (and crabs) using the cracked utility sink for raised tomato container.
Kathy M
on Dec 26, 2011
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My husband and I decided not to exchange gifts this year and man....was it wonderful! No gift buying pressure, just a wonderfully relaxing day with family and good food. Still working on my two sons (30 & 28) they still love the idea of giving lot's of stuff. They are both very crafty and dating women who are also creative, so I think next year we will each exchange a box filled with recycled items and the makings for some cool crafting. The challenge wil be to create a fun holiday gift with only what is in your given box. I think this would be fun and competitive...in a good way. We recycle the tree and I always reuse the fronts of holiday cards for gift tags the next year. Oh...and my sons gave me the ULTIMATE recycled gift....a 7mo old cat from the local SPCA..her name is Carmen.
Janet metzger
on Dec 26, 2011
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@Janet- I never though about getting a cat from the SPCA as being green, but it is.
SawHorse Design Build
on Dec 26, 2011
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Rather than selling good unwanted items on Craig's list I post them on Yahoo Freecycle (enter your own city and find people with needs/wants). I have met many people that loved things I no longer wanted. It doesn't get much better than this.
Sherrie S
on Dec 26, 2011
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Great idea Sherrie! I have some stuff at our office that I need to get rid of and will try this out.
SawHorse Design Build
on Dec 26, 2011
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Really good thinking. and I adore the furry baby!
Bernice H
on Dec 26, 2011
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My cousin came up with a new way to avoid wrapping waste that is more elegant than my cheapo solution of wrapping gifts in newspaper (fancier gifts get the Sunday color comics). She bought some cheap fabric and wrapped the presents for the family, then kept the fabric, and it is ready to reuse next year.
3po3
on Dec 26, 2011
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@Steve- great idea.
SawHorse Design Build
on Dec 26, 2011
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That is a great idea, Steve, and fabric probably works better for awkwardly shaped presents, too.
Douglas Hunt
on Dec 27, 2011
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I'll have to tell the cousin how excited y'all were about her idea. I was pretty impressed.
3po3
on Dec 27, 2011
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Many of our team members enjoy saving holiday cards from special friends and family over the years and bringing them out each season. They can be cut, or left whole and made into a wreath, strung with garland and decorate a doorway. We found some other great idea to use cards here: http://www.make-stuff.com/recycling/greeting_cards.html
AK Complete Home Renovations
on Dec 28, 2011
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@AK- I have received cards that were reused before. Pretty funny when I get a birthday card with the wrong age on it!
SawHorse Design Build
on Dec 28, 2011
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That's some BOLD recycling!
AK Complete Home Renovations
on Dec 29, 2011
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From old used cards--cut and paste and embellish with glitter, etc. on new card stock.In senior's home, they even sold them.
Marion Hamilton
on Jan 17, 2016
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