Chances are pretty slim that Jacksonville will have a white Christmas, but here are some helpful waste prevention tips to help you make the holidays a little greener!

Use a live tree that can be planted later.

Because Christmas trees are highly flammable, their needles and twigs make powerful kindling for campfires and fireplaces (and it smells great!)

Reuse materials to package and wrap gifts.

Compost.

After the holiday is past, there is still work to do. Knowing what to do with Christmas trees, gift boxes and packaging materials ahead of time will make the post-holiday cleanup a lot simpler for everyone.

Gift Boxes

Remember that only corrugated cardboard is collected curbside.  Gift boxes that are made from other materials cannot be recycled curbside, but they can be re-used.  Save them for next year!

Packaging Materials

Packaging peanuts, brown kraft-paper, crinkle-wrap and bubble-wrap are reusable too.  If you do not want to keep them, check with local package and delivery shops.  For example, many local Mail Boxes, Etc., Pak-Mail, and Postal Annex stores will gladly accept and reuse these items if they are still in good condition.  Of course, you can also use old newspaper to pack gifts and then it can be recycled in the blue bin.