Sustainable Holiday Tips

Shop local

Shopping locally supports our Bothell businesses while reducing your impact on the environment. Don't miss the Pop Shops on Main supporting minority and women-owned small businesses.

Gift experiences

Give your loved ones the gift of a fun experience. Try tickets to a game or show, look for upcoming cooking, art, music, or fitness classes, book a spot on a tour (anything from kayaking to chocolate factory tours), donate to a cause close to their heart, or give a membership to a local business or organization.

Give the gift of waste reduction

Look for gifts that help your loved ones reduce waste. From reusable food wraps and storage containers to bamboo toothbrushes, the options are endless.

Wrap up the holidays

Get creative with your gift wrap this year! Old maps, posters, calendars, sheet music, paper shopping bags, and newspaper make great repurposed wrapping paper. 

You can also try Japanese cloth wraps called furoshiki. Furoshiki, both a style of gift wrap and traditional Japanese wrapping cloth, can be made from fabric squares from old textiles or made new and reused for years to come.

If you'd rather go classic, look for gift wrap without foil or glitter so it can be recycled later. Check out the Know Where It Goes tab for more recycling tips.

Stop by The Recology Store for a Gift Wrapping Workshop on December 14 at 5 pm to try your hand at sustainable gift-wrapping!

Did you know Americans throw away 25% more trash from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day? Make sure your waste goes to the right place.

Wrapping Paper

Recycle wrapping paper right with Recology’s gift wrap guide.

Special Item Recycling

Recology customers can visit The Recology Store or schedule curbside collection of Styrofoam, household batteries, old bikes and bike parts, small appliances and electronics, cooking oil and kitchen grease, textiles, and more. 

Holiday lights can be recycled at locations throughout King County.

Live trees

Consider buying a live tree and planting it outside after the holidays. Once in the ground, the tree adds value to your landscape and helps soak up excess rainwater.

Compost your Tree

If you have a cut tree, compost it when the holidays are over. Recology offers curbside tree collection for residential customers. Find out requirements.