How to Have a Sustainable Holiday Season
The holiday season is a time for connection and celebration—but it’s also one of the most wasteful times of the year. Between packaging, food waste, and gift wrap, household trash can increase exponentially in November & December. The good news is that small, practical choices can make a big difference for your wallet and our climate. Here’s how Columbia residents can celebrate more sustainably this year.
1. Low-Waste Gift Giving
Thoughtful gifts don’t have to come with excess packaging or shipping emissions. Shop locally to reduce transport impacts and support Columbia’s small businesses. Gift experiences—a concert ticket, a class, or a membership—instead of things.
If you’re giving physical items, look for durable, repairable, or secondhand options. Columbia has many thrift and reuse shops where you can find quality items that don’t add to the production cycle. For wrapping, skip the glossy paper and plastic bows (wrapping paper is often not recyclable!) Plain brown paper, reusable cloth, or even newspaper can make for a cleaner, recyclable option.
Take Action:
Get inspired for low-waste gifting solutions on the dashboard Waste page.
2. Food: Plan, Share, and Compost
Holiday meals are a major source of waste—but planning ahead helps reduce it. Shop with a list, portion realistically, and store leftovers safely. Share extra food with neighbors or coworkers or freeze it for future meals.
If you do end up with spoiled food, composting keeps it out of the landfill, where it would otherwise generate methane—a potent greenhouse gas. The dashboard Waste page shows that most of our landfill material could be composted or recycled instead. Consider backyard composting or connecting with local community gardens that accept food scraps.
Finally, remember that not everyone has enough this time of year. Columbia is home to several local food pantries, with the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri serving as the main distribution hub for Boone County. Donating unopened goods or hosting a food drive is a powerful way to build community resilience.
Take Action:
Donate or volunteer with the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri.
3. Sustainable Decorating
It’s easy to go overboard on holiday décor, but simple is often better. Reuse decorations year after year, trade items with friends, or craft your own from natural materials like pinecones or greenery. LED string lights use up to 75% less energy than traditional bulbs and last much longer.
When it’s time to take the tree down, check the City’s Solid Waste Utility for tree recycling programs that turn natural trees into mulch rather than sending them to the landfill.
Take Action:
Find out how to recycle holiday trees and lights on the City of Columbia Holiday Recycling page.
4. Hosting Low-Waste Gatherings
When organizing holiday events at home or at work, plan ahead to cut waste. Serve drinks in reusable or biodegradable cups and dishes instead of disposable ones. Set up clearly labeled recycling bins and encourage guests to use them. Buy in bulk to minimize packaging and borrow serving ware or decorations instead of buying new.
Bonus: encourage guests to carpool or take local transit to your party – consider incentivizing them with a prize!
Take Action:
Review Columbia’s Recycling Guidelines before your next event to make sure materials end up in the right place.
Enjoy Your Sustainable Holiday Season!
The City of Columbia’s Climate Action & Adaptation Plan calls on residents to reduce waste as part of building a more sustainable and resilient community. This holiday season, choose small steps that matter: shop local, waste less, reuse more, and share what you can.
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