Celebrate with Less Waste

Did you know, in making one can’s worth of new items,
seventy cans of trash is created?
When celebrating, try to reduce or reuse instead of buying new.
Here is a fine list of ways to give plastic-free gifts.
What you can’t reduce or reuse, try to recycle. Manufacturing a new item from recycled materials requires fewer resources and generates fewer emissions than if virgin materials were used.  However, the recycling process still uses energy and water, creates pollution, and contributes to climate change, which is why reducing and reusing are preferable.

Tips for a Low-waste Celebration

Reduce

Reuse

Recycle

ELECTRONICS

(Donations may be refurbished, remanufactured or recycled.)

ORGANICS

PACKAGING

  • Air pillow packaging – Reuse: The UPS Store or  Zutto Vintage & Antiques. Recycle: Pop and recycle in the plastic bag receptacles at Town & Country or Safeway.
  • Bubble wrap – Reuse: The UPS Store or Zutto Vintage & Antiques, 162 Bjune Dr.
  • Cardboard boxes (flatten) – Recycle: Curbside recycling or cardboard dumpster at Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station
  • Compostable “peanuts” – Dissolve in water.
  • Mailers, entirely of bubble wrap – Recycle: Plastic bin at Safeway or T&C; cut off paper label
  • Mailers, paper exterior and bubble wrap interior – TRASH
  • Mailer, all plastic – Recycle: Cut off the label and put in the designated bin for plastic bags at Safeway or T&C.
  • Plastic film (not crinkly; it must stretch when pushed with thumb; also, must be clean) – Recycle: Safeway and Town & Country Market. To see all the kinds of film that can be recycled at the grocery store, go here.
  • Styrofoam (snappable) blocks (CLEAN, DRY, white; remove all tape and stickers) – Recycle: See this page for options.
  • Styrofoam “peanuts” – Reuse: Check with local art galleries or glass artists to see if they need them for packing.  Otherwise, check the Styro page for options.

PAPER