Greetings cards and packages fill our homes and warm our hearts during the holidays. Consider these quick tips for a greener Christmas and reduce the amount of holiday tidings that end up in the landfill. 

• Recycle plain wrapping paper and flattened cardboard boxes in your curbside cart. Check out these Recycling Tips for the Online Shopper for help deciphering which items can be recycled and which cannot. 
• Give a second life to your clean, gently-used clothing, housewares, toys, furniture and appliances by donating to local charitable organizations. Items should be in good, usable condition. Check out The Woodlands Donation Guide for a list of local organizations accepting donation. Many organizations will pick up your items. If you have an item that is not specified in the guide, call first to assure it is accepted. 
• Find new recycling opportunities for items that cannot be recycled in your curbside cart. Items such as used electronics, batteries, Styrofoam, light bulbs, eyeglasses, mattresses and more can all be recycled locally at participating locations. Check out the Recycle More Guide for a complete list of locations and phone numbers. 

Read on for our guide to greening your holidays this year!

Recycle Single-Use Gift Wrap

Approximately 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper is produced in the U.S. each year with 2.3 million pounds ending up in the landfill. Holiday wrapping paper is often coated in plastic or foil causing it to be non-recyclable. If the wrapping paper is metallic, has glitter on it, or has a texture to it, it is not recyclable. Gift wrap mistakenly put in the recycling cart harms the value of other collected paper at the recycling center.  See our guide below for more tips!

Try Reusable Gift Wrap and Recycled Paper 

If the holiday rush has you hustling and there’s no time for crafting, consider purchasing a reusable alternative. Fabric gift wraps, nice tea towels, scarves and bandannas make excellent choices. 

For wrapping boxes, try using found newspaper or purchasing wrapping paper made with recycled content.  Really get in to the recycling spirit with these two simple crafts and make your own gift box or hand-made bow this holiday season. 

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Make Your Own Shopping Bag Bow  

Materials: 

• Paper – shopping bag, newspaper, etc. 
• Scissors 
• Ruler 
• Double-sided tape 

Instructions: 

Cut your paper into nine strips, each ¾ of an inch wide. Next, measure and cut the length. You’ll need three strips that are 11” long, three strips that are 10” long, two strips that are 9” long and 1 strip that is 3 1/2” long. 

Using one strip of paper at a time, twist each end toward the center until they meet in the middle and create a loop. Secure the ends in place with double-sided tape. Repeat with the remaining eight strips, with the exception of the 3 ½” inch strip; loop that one into a circle. 

Start with the three longest strips of paper and begin stacking in descending order by size; largest on the bottom. Secure each loop in place with tape. Finish with the circle loop in the center. Attach your bow on top of your gift wrapped in recyclable paper. 

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Create a Gift Box 

Turn any recycled card stock into a gift box. Find old record covers, cereal boxes, or old shipping boxes and make a custom box for a loved one. 

Materials: 

• Card stock  
• Scissors 
• Ruler 
• Hot glue or double sided tape 

Instructions for an 8 inch square box: 

Trim two pieces of card stock into a square that is 12” wide and long.  

For the top: Draw a line 2” wide on each side. For the bottom: Draw a line 2 ¼” wide on each side. Press firmly to score lines but not too hard or you might cut or tear the cardstock. See image below. 

Use scissors to lightly score along the lines 

Cut alternating flaps as marked on the image below. Fold along all four scored lines on each piece of card stock. Use glue or tape to secure each corner flap inside the longer, side piece of the box.   

Tip: use clothespins to secure corners while glue is drying 

Once glue dries or the corners are secured with tape, you have a custom, upcycled box to fill with a special gift for friends, family or the holiday gift swap at the office. 

Recycle Your Christmas Tree

Cut Christmas Tree Recycling – Unflocked Trees Only  

• Remove tree stand, all decorations and lights.  
• Place the tree at the curb on your regular service day for collection by the yard trimmings truck.  
• Trees free of decorations may also be deposited at the Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park, 6464 Creekside Forest Drive, from Thursday, December 26, 2024, to Sunday, January 12, 2025. These trees will be chipped and used for flooring at Texas TreeVentures.

Flocked Christmas Tree Disposal  

• Schedule for bulk pickup by calling Waste Management at 800-800-5804.
• Call at least two working days before your regular service day.  
• Flocked Christmas trees must be landfilled.