Give a Great Story for a Waste-Free Holiday
By Thomas Nguyen
This holiday season, join the City of Austin in a winter wonderland of fun ideas and memorable gifts that have the added bonus of being zero-waste friendly!
What does it mean to “give a great story?”
Did you know that 25 percent more waste is created during the holiday season? Giving a great story means thinking beyond brand-new items and finding gifts that create new memories with your family and friends. Whether it’s the anticipation of the experiences you will share together, the thoughtfulness of having a beloved item repaired, or the excitement of receiving an item that has lived a life before getting to you, giving a great story means showing you care.
Give the gift of experiences.
- Give memberships to clubs, museums, zoos or galleries.
- Purchase admission for skill-development classes.
- Buy an annual pass to state or national parks.
- Buy tickets to a sporting event, concert or festival.
- Give kayak or canoe rental gift certificates.
- Buy tickets for the opera, theatre or ballet.
Give the gift of repair.
- Repair a family heirloom.
- Have a favorite pair of shoes resoled and polished.
- Restore photos that are damaged or faded.
- Alter or patch a favorite outfit that no longer fits.
- Fix the broken down bicycle in the garage.
Give the gift of reuse.
- Buy a pre-loved book.
- Find a vintage piece of jewelry with history and style.
- Turn a teacup into a planter.
- Add a new coat of paint to an old piece of furniture.
- Make a quilt out of favorite old t-shirts.
- Find thrift-store frames for treasured family photos.
So this year, instead of buying something that’s likely to end up in the landfill in a few months, give the gift of a great story—and put a lasting smile on your loved ones’ faces.