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
- Check out Eco-Cycle’s holiday waste reduction guide.
Reuse
- Check out the local thrift stores for gifts, decorations and outfits: Bargain Boutique, Waterfront Thrift Shop, Closet Transfer.
- To pass on holiday items you’re no longer using, post on Buy Nothing Bainbridge, Free on the Rock, craigslist, or take to the Goodwill truck in Ace Hardware‘s parking lot. Use those same online sites to scout out used gifts.
- If you’re having lots of guests over, borrow from our Zero Waste Tableware Lending Library.
- This blog has other ideas for celebrating with reuse in mind.
Recycle
ELECTRONICS
(Donations may be refurbished, remanufactured or recycled.)
- Anything with a cord – Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station. Put in designated e-waste section.
- Batteries, all types – Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station
- Cell phones and small items (calculators, camcorders, iPods, MP3 players, printer cartridges, videogames, accessories), computer peripherals – Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station (except for printer cartridges), Best Buy or Staples
- Computer monitors and CPUs, laptops, tablets, TVs – Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station
- Holiday light strings (broken) – Bainbridge Ace Hardware, now through January 18, 2021.
ORGANICS
- Cooking oil (no food particles) – Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station
- Food scraps, all – Compost in curbside yard waste bin or Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station yard waste (small fee)
- Trees – Scout Troops 1564 & 1804 pick up curbside on Saturday, January 9, 2021. Trees are chipped and used on Bainbridge. You must make a reservation for pick-up. Go here.
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. Or bring to Styrofoam Recycling Collection, info here.
- Mailers, entirely of bubble wrap – Recycle: Plastic bin at Safeway or T&C; cut off paper label
- Mailers, bubble wrap interior, paper exterior – TRASH
- Mailer, all plastic – Recycle: Plastic bin at Safeway or T&C; cut off paper label
- Plastic film (not crinkly; it must stretch when pushed with thumb; also, must be clean, stickers okay) – 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: Bay Hay and Feed on January 30 & 31, 2021*. Saturday, 10am-4pm & Sunday 10am-3pm; donation requested. More info here. *Based on Covid restrictions, a final decision to hold the event will be made in early January.
- Styrofoam “peanuts” – Same as Styrofoam block info.
PAPER
- Envelopes, paper- Curbside recycling or commingled recycling at Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station
- Gift bags (remove non-paper handles and non-paper decorations) – Curbside recycling or commingled recycling at Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station
- Holiday cards (remove batteries and anything non-paper) – Curbside recycling or commingled recycling at Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station
- Tissue paper – Compost in curbside yard waste bin or Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station yard waste (small fee)
- Wrapping paper (non-foil type, remove non-paper decorations) – Curbside recycling or commingled recycling at Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station. A good way to test wrapping paper recyclability is to crush wrapping paper into a ball. If it stays bunched up, it is more than likely recyclable.