Waste Less This Shopping Season: A CoMo Guide

From Black Friday deals to last-minute gift runs, November kicks off the busiest shopping season of the year, and the busiest season for our trash cans. Packaging is already one of the biggest pieces of the waste stream: according to the EPA, containers and packaging made up 28% of all U.S. municipal solid waste, or 82.2 million tons, and corrugated boxes were the single largest product category (EPA). Shipping boxes, plastic film, foam inserts and Styrofoam add up fast. This year, a few intentional choices can help CoMo shop smarter and send less to the landfill.

Why It Matters in CoMo

When waste breaks down in a landfill, it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. According to Columbia's climate action dashboard, more than half of our landfill waste could be recycled or composted instead. That's why reducing waste production is one of the three solid waste goals in Columbia's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.

This season also matters for local recycling. Since the April 2025 tornado destroyed the City's Material Recovery Facility, recycling has been rebuilding, and fewer households have been participating. Incoming recyclables fell from just under 5,000 tons to about 2,700 tons for the same six-month period one year apart (ABC 17 News). The holidays are the perfect time to get back in the habit.

1. Recycle Right After the Unboxing

Holiday shipping boxes can and should be recycled. Flatten cardboard and bundle it with paper in a box or paper bag at the curb on your regular collection day. Plastic bottles and containers, aluminum cans and metal food cans go in blue bags. Leave out foam packaging, bubble wrap, plastic film and glass, which contaminate loads and can send good recyclables to the landfill.

Glass bottles and jars from holiday gatherings can be dropped off for free in the purple Ripple Glass bin at the landfill, 5700 Peabody Road. City adds second Ripple Glass bin for glass recycling, thanks to a partnership between City Utilities, Ripple Glass, and the University of Missouri. Drop-off location: 1242 Ashland Rd (MU campus).

Take Action: Download the CoMo Recycle and Trash app and review the City's recycling guidelines before the boxes pile up.

2. Give Gifts That Don't Become Trash

The lowest-waste gift is one that gets used. Ask for wish lists to avoid returns and re-shipping. Choose consumables like homemade treats, local honey or coffee, or give your time and skills: a home-cooked meal, a repair or a lesson. Wrap gifts in something that's part of the present, like a dish towel, scarf or tote bag. Shopping online? Bundle orders into fewer shipments and choose in-store pickup when you can.

Remember: Wrapping paper is not recyclable unless the packaging clearly says that it can be recycled. Most of the wrapping paper that you find in stores is not recyclable because manufacturers add foil and other compounds that cannot be removed from the paper material. However, if you do some searching, there are a few companies that still make wrapping paper entirely of paper.

Take Action: Find easy ways to reduce, reuse, repurpose and repair on the dashboard Waste page.

3. Shop Local and Secondhand

Buying close to home means fewer delivery trucks and less shipping packaging. Columbia's downtown, neighborhood shops, holiday craft fairs and makers markets offer handmade and locally made gifts, often with little to no packaging. Thrift and consignment shops give quality items a second life, and neighborhood swap groups make it easy to pass along what you no longer need. Don't forget your reusable bags!

Take Action: Plan a local shopping trip for Small Business Saturday on November 28 using Visit Columbia's Where to Shop guide.

Every box flattened, bottle dropped in the purple bin and gift bought close to home helps Columbia move toward its climate goals. This shopping season, buy with intention, recycle right and keep good things in use. Our landfill, our community, and our climate will thank you!