December Challenge: Sustainable Holidays
Electronics Recycling
- E-Cycle Washington allows residents to recycle computers, monitors, laptops, tablets, e-readers, portable DVD players, and TVs for free. Keyboards, printers, toner cartridges, and cell phones are not included, but can be dropped off for free at Best Buy and Staples.
- InterConnection also accepts electronics via dropoff in Seattle or mail (laptops and phones). Note: Dropoffs are currently suspended due to COVID-19.
- Living Green Technology has dropboxes for electronics located in Fremont and West Seattle.
- In Whatcom County, you can drop off electronics at Goodwill, Value Village, SSC, and more. Most are free.
- Oregon E-Cycles locations accept computers, monitors, TVs, printers, and computer peripherals (keyboards, mice) for recycling
- In Missoula, electronics recycling locations include Best Buy, Staples, and Target (MP3 players and cell phone only). There are also several local disposal companies that may charge a small fee.
Sustainable Wrapping
Most wrapping papers and tissue papers can be recycled. Only foil and plastic-coated wrapping paper need to be placed in the garbage. Consider this when selecting your paper this year.
There are lots of alternatives to traditional wrapping paper including
decorating your own brown paper grocery bags, wrapping presents in old calendars or maps, or using a reusable container. Check out these links for some inspiration:
- King County: Wrap it up
- Sunset magazine: Sustainable Gift Wrap Ideas
- Trash is for Tossers: Zero Waste Gift Wrap Ideas
De-Clutter and Donate
If you are clearing out some old supplies and making room for a new hobby, you can drop off old craft items, art supplies, and more for others to reuse at:
- Seattle Recreative (Seattle)
- Allied Arts Reuse Thrift Store (Bellingham)
- Tinkertopia (Tacoma)
- Scrap PDX (Portland)
- SCRaP (Billings)
Fashion Forward
Do you have clothing that isn’t in good enough shape to resell? Do you know that you can still recycle old clothing, shoes, belts, purses, hats, gloves, scarves, luggage, backpacks, linens, and fabric scraps even if it isn’t in good enough shape to be re-worn?
- Threadcycle (Seattle)
- GemText (Seattle/Portland)
- Ragfinery (Bellingham)
- Ridwell (greater Seattle area and coming soon to Portland)
String Lights
Do you have a pile of burned-out holiday lights or are you upgrading to LEDs? Don’t throw out your holiday lights – recycle them!
- Here is a list of drop-off locations in the greater Seattle area and mail-in recycling programs that take your old light strands and recycle the copper wire inside them.
- Ridwell is also doing a pickup after the holidays – drop your light strands at the recycling center in the Seattle office before Monday 1/11
