The amount of household waste in the U.S. increases an average of 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day ( EPA). Wrapping paper, decorations, packaging, and leftover food (and sometimes even the gifts we buy), often don’t last long and end up in the waste stream. This holiday season will be like none other. Help us kick off a different way of celebrating the holidays this season.
The Gift Greener Challenge
The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and our partners challenge you to reduce waste by thinking differently about how you shop for and give gifts. Together, we can reduce waste, save energy and build a strong local economy. We encourage you to Gift Outside the Box!
Buy Local
Giving greener does not mean you stop giving all together. It’s about making a conscious choice to think about the impact of your buying power. Where and how you spend your money has power and that is no better expressed then buying local. When you visit County businesses and purchase gifts made locally, you are helping to improve our area economy and support jobs. Plus, you’re helping the environment by reducing fuel. It’s a win – win!
- Give Tickets: Give tickets to online concerts and shows, such as Strathmore, the Fillmore, Black Rock Center for the Arts, Imagination Stage, Round House Theatre, Olney Theatre Center.
- Gift Maryland Made: Look for Agricutlture & Economic Opportunities and look for the "MoCo Made" logo, to identify locally crafted items.
- Gift Fresh Fruit and Vegetables: Purchase membership in a Community Supported Agriculture: Montgomery County Farm to Table and Montgomery Countryside Alliance in exchange for fresh, locally grown fruit, veggies and herbs.
- Community FarmShare has a donation gift certificate where people can buy a portion of a CSA share from a local vegetable farm and give that to families experiencing food insecurity.
- Gift MoCo Made: Looking for a gift for the sweet tooth, wine connoisseur, or health nut in your life? Look no further! Check out these MoCo Made businesses and support them by eating, drinking, and buying local this holiday season!
Gift Experiences
Not everything of value comes inside of a box. Some of the best gifts are those that bring families and friends together even online, enrich us, and allow us to experience something new. That’s why we challenge you to Gift virtual Experiences this year.
- Gift online classes: The Montgomery County Department of Recreation has tons of outdoor and virtual opportunities.
- Gift a Montgomery Parks virtual class: They have everything from tai chi and tennis to botanical drawing/painting classes, photography classes, and more.
- Gift a Brookside Gardens experience: From poinsettias to full moon walks, they have tons of experiences.
- Gift a Montgomery County Public Libraries experience: Bring a friend or a family member to get a free library card. MCPL has a great variety of online and in-person services and resources for the whole family.
Gift Greener
Hearing “gift green” might make you think of giving out money as a gift. To us, gifting green means thinking about the impact to the environment of what we buy, as well as, how we buy our gifts. Check out the free conscious consumer’s handbook: How to Buy Responsibly All Year Long as well.
- Gift lower utility bills: An energy audit can help ENERGY STAR® appliances or the latest tech to lower energy usage, like a smart thermostat or smart LED light bulb.
- Gift when your online shopping cart is full: When making purchases online, try to make sure you have added everything you will purchase from each company to your cart before you complete your purchase to reduce the amount of packaging, delivery trips, and contact.
- Gift something from a Certified Green Business: The Green Business Directory is comprised of local businesses that have been certified through at least one certification standard.
Give Back
Dollar-for-dollar, no gift has greater positive impact than giving to charity in someone’s name. It’s a double gift – in one action you are letting your friend or family member know that the community will be improved thanks to them AND you’ll be supporting a local charity. It embodies the true spirit of the holidays.
- Gift your time: Volunteer in someone’s name (with safety precautions). Find volunteer opportunities on the Volunteer Center website.
- Give the gift of life: Donate blood at the NIH Blood Bank.
- Gift a meal: Get together a virtual group of friends to cook a meal and deliver the food to a local hospital for front-line medical staff. You’ll spend virtual time together and help those in need.
Give to Reduce, Reuse & Recycle Right
Reduce Waste, Reuse Materials, Recycle More and Buy Recycled! Check out tips on holiday waste reduction and recycling!
- Gift reused items: Shop at a discount home improvement center such as Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Or rethink hand-me-downs. Create a dress-up kit or an arts and crafts “idea box”.
- Gift a craft: Make it unique and get crafty! Try a class at VisArts to create gifts yourself with reused items, such as personalize a picture frame or sew a customized gift.
- Gift a reduced waste gift: Look on Buy Nothing, Facebook Marketplace, or NextDoor to find gifts that help reduce waste in the future, like a reusable coffee mug, a lunch bag or a starter kit for canning or pickling at home.
Gift Greener Partners
If you would like to join this list of amazing partners and promote the Gift Outside the Box campaign, email us at AskDEP@montgomerycountymd.gov.
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Contact Us
For more information, contact us!
Email: AskDEP@montgomerycountymd.gov
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