Planet-Friendly Holiday Ideas

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Keeping the Holidays Merry, Bright & Sustainable

With this Sustainability Savings Tip, you can:

Save $50 to $1,000/YR
Avoid Emissions of CO2: 100 to 1,000 lbs./YR

The holidays typically mean that you’ll be buying STUFF and being gifted more STUFF. In recent years, many of us have become more mindful about what we bring into our homes and how our choices impact the environment. Call it conscientious consumption. No matter what you call it, small choices can add up to meaningful impact.

Below are some of our favorite 'Living Green' ideas to help your holiday season stay joyful, generous, and a little greener.

Sustainability-Santa Gift Ideas

Be mindful of what you’re gifting. When possible, skip single-use plastics, battery-powered items, and novelty products that won’t last (yes, we know… all really difficult). Instead, consider experiences, memberships, or gifts that support a greener lifestyle, such as:

  • Subscriptions to Green Living Magazine
  • A bird feeder or bee house
  • Memberships to Mesa museums, Mesa Arts Center, Desert Botanical Garden, or Boyce Thompson Arboretum
  • A garden bed lease at Mesa Urban Garden
    Look for WaterSense Logo
  •  A nursery gift card for a tree, native plants, or pollinator-friendly landscaping
  •  A Compost Crank (for easy compost turning)  
  •  A refillable water bottle
  •  DIY books on natural cleaners or eco-friendly living
  •  Electronics, appliances, or fixtures with the ENERGY STAR® or WaterSense® label

These gifts keep on giving – saving water, energy, and money month after month.

 1. Reuse or Donate What You No Longer Need

The new appliance or electronic gadget you get as a gift might be the latest-latest but that doesn’t mean your old items can’t be enjoyed by someone else.

  • Goodwill Donation Centers accept items in working condition that are complete and free of stains and damage. Donations are easy and tax deductible.
  • Stardust Mesa (1720 W. Broadway) is a home-improvement reuse center that accepts working appliances, cabinets, plumbing, hardware, lighting, construction materials, and more.
  • AZ StRUT (AZ Students Recycling Used Technology) takes all types of electronics, working or not, and refurbishes them to provide computers to Title 1 schools and community non-profit organizations. If they cannot use the items you donate, they will recycle it responsibly. Your donations are tax deductible. 
  • Art Resource Center (The ARC) diverts items from the waste stream to be reused for arts, crafts, education, and beyond. Over 95% of materials are zero cost to educators and nonprofits and artists/makers donate what the materials are worth to them. 
  • Earth911 If you have an unusual item like old carpeting, check into this site for listings of companies in the area that may accept them.

2. Can It Be Recycled? (Please reduce and reuse first!)

Recycling rules can change for many reasons, so it’s always best to double-check. Visit www.mesarecycles.org and use the Recycle Right Wizard for the most up-to-date information. Here’s a quick holiday rundown:

Cardboard Boxes

✔ Yes – corrugated cardboard only
✘ Remove bubble wrap, Styrofoam, and packing materials
✔ Break boxes down so bins aren’t overloaded

Gift Wrap, Gift Bags, & Cards

✘ Generally no, due to glitter, foil, coatings, and embellishments
✔ Better options: reusable bags, baskets, tins, newspaper, old calendar pages
✔ Kitchen gift? Wrap it in a tea towel

Tissue Paper

✘ Not recyclable (fibers are too short)
✔ Reuse for gifting or compost if uncoated

Holiday Tree

✔ Yes – we Treecycle!

Visit Mesa’s Christmas Tree Recycling page for drop-off dates and locations.

Start Saving (and Making a Difference)

Being mindful of what you buy - and how you dispose of it - helps reduce waste, conserve resources while doing your part for building a sustainable community. Get more sustainability savings tips.

Sustainability Savings Tip

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