Picture this: the holiday season, filled with joy and cheer, but at what cost to our planet? Deschutes County Solid Waste is urging everyone to rethink their celebrations and embrace eco-friendly habits that keep waste out of landfills. And this is the part most people miss – holiday festivities can spike trash production dramatically, from shipping boxes to discarded decorations and uneaten feasts. In fact, the typical household might produce 25% more garbage from Thanksgiving through New Year's compared to the rest of the year. But here's where it gets controversial – is sticking to traditional gift-giving worth the environmental toll, or should we rethink what 'giving' really means?
County Solid Waste Director Tim Brownell puts it plainly: 'We're encouraging locals to opt for eco-conscious presents, cut down on packaging, and cut food waste to a minimum. We've even boosted our recycling services for tricky items lately (check out https://www.deschutes.org/solidwaste/page/county-expands-options-hard-recycle-items-0), and folks can drop them off gratis at the Knot Landfill or any county transfer station.'
To help you navigate this sustainably, here are some practical tips to reduce, reuse, and recycle during the festivities – we've added a few extra insights to make it clearer for beginners:
- Go for sustainable décor: Pick out sturdy ornaments and decorations you can reuse every year. For example, crafting your own from recycled materials or upcycling old items not only feels creative but also cuts down on buying new disposables. Plus, switching to LED lights isn't just eco-friendly; they use less electricity and have a longer lifespan, saving you money in the long run.
- Get creative with gift wrapping: Skip the one-time-use paper. Instead, try reusable cloth bags, fabric swatches, or even DIY wraps made from vintage maps, musical scores, or your kids' drawings – it's a fun way to personalize and reduce waste.
- Focus on gift experiences: Choose intangible presents like tickets to a hike, a live show, dance lessons, or cooking workshops. These create cherished memories without adding clutter to your home or the planet.
- Donate what you don't need: While tidying up for new arrivals, give away gently used clothes, toys, or household goods. It's a win-win: you free up space, and someone else gets a thoughtful gift.
- Plan meals to dodge food waste: Don't let leftovers go to waste – freeze them, share with friends, or compost them. Remember, all scraps, from veggies to meats and even festive treats, belong in your yard debris or food waste bin.
- Recycle the right way: Items like cardboard boxes, plain paper, and clean gift bags are recyclable, but foil paper, ribbons, and plastic clamshells go straight to the trash. For oversized cardboard that won't fit in your curbside bin, head to Deschutes Recycling or a county transfer station. And don't forget: old string lights can be recycled there too.
- Handle electronics with care: Dispose of outdated gadgets, appliances, and tech safely at Deschutes Recycling or a county transfer site to ensure harmful materials are managed properly.
- Tackle hard-to-recycle items: Stuff like plastic bags, foil, shredded documents, and those six-pack rings? Bring them to one of the County's recycling centers for proper handling.
But here's where it gets interesting – while some folks argue that all this recycling effort is too much hassle in the busy holiday rush, others believe it's a small price for protecting our environment. What do you think: does the convenience of traditional celebrations outweigh the need for sustainability?
For even more ways to cut waste all year long, dive into Solid Waste’s recycling page (https://www.deschutes.org/solidwaste/page/recycling-what-can-i-recycle), tune in to the Inside Deschutes County podcast (https://www.deschutes.org/administration/page/inside-deschutes-county-podcast), or find nearby drop-off spots on the Solid Waste locations page (https://www.deschutes.org/solidwaste/page/administration-disposal-and-recycling-locations).
What’s your take on holiday sustainability? Do experiences truly trump material gifts, or is there room for both? Share your opinions in the comments – we'd love to hear differing views!
Media contact:
Jackie Wilson, Community Outreach Coordinator
(541) 617-4761
News Release Issued: December 17, 2025
