Christmas represents a season of joy, generosity and celebration; however, this time of year also contributes to staggering levels of waste generation. From wrapping paper and gift packaging to food scraps and discarded decorations, the aftermath of the holidays leaves an enormous environmental footprint. Understanding where all this garbage ends up and how it impacts the planet can inspire sustainable choices during the festive season.
Each holiday season, household waste increases by around 25%, creating millions of extra tons of trash. Wrapping paper alone accounts for an estimated four million tons annually, plenty of which cannot survive recycling because of glitter, metallic finishes or plastic coatings. Combined with the heaps of packaging from toys and electronics, disposable party supplies and uneaten food, the problem’s scale becomes clear. While these items bring people joy, they leave significant environmental challenges behind.
Holiday waste follows one of three paths: landfills, recycling centers or composting facilities. Landfills mark the final destination for plenty of waste, especially items including non-recyclable wrapping paper, plastic packaging and broken ornaments. These materials can take decades to decompose, releasing greenhouse gases such as methane in the process. These gases contribute to global warming and climate change. Landfills also take up vast amounts of land, disrupting ecosystems and habitats. Toxic substances can also seep into the ground through the landfill’s protective liner causing water contamination. This contamination poses significant risks to human health and local ecosystems.
Recycling can help mitigate the problem but creates a challenging solution. Holiday waste becomes improperly sorted, with contaminated items such as greasy food containers, ribbons and plastic-coated papers in recycling bins. These items cannot be processed and become redirected to landfills. Still, recycling requires proper sorting and access to facilities, which certain households lack. Producing and disposing of wrapping paper and packaging materials consumes energy and natural resources, while discarded electronics release toxic substances if not recycled properly. These emissions contribute to climate change and environmental degradation, turning a season of joy into one of ecological harm.
“When we unwrap our gifts on Christmas morning, we usually hold all of our wrapping in a garbage bag we recycle. I hope it goes to a place where a recycling company will make the paper reusable for future use. I feel as though it probably ends up in a place with garbage that is not recyclable as I am learning that people are putting recyclable objects in garbage cans,” magnet senior Olivia Doucette said.
Composting facilities provide an environmentally friendly solution for managing holiday waste such as food scraps and natural decorations, significantly reducing methane emissions that would otherwise come from organic waste in landfills. However, transporting waste to centralized facilities generates carbon emissions, and the energy used by processing equipment relies on non-renewable sources. While they cause less harm than landfills, composting emits carbon dioxide during decomposition. Poorly managed facilities can also cause odor, pest attraction or water contamination from nutrient runoff. Depending on the location, composting can achieve extreme popularity and gain supporters; however, 81% of the world does not use composting facilities due to a lack of infrastructure and support. Despite these challenges, composting remains a crucial tool for minimizing the holiday season’s environmental footprint, especially when supported by local programs and home composting initiatives.
“We can buy recyclable wrapping paper, which is pretty much any paper that doesn’t have sparkles or is super shiny. Or we could even use newspaper to wrap some gifts and give them a little character then you can recycle that paper afterwards. Any toys or items that are in cardboard boxes can then be recycled. Also if you have a real tree then you can donate them to a tree recycling program and they will turn the tree into mulch which can later be used,” magnet junior Simran Kant said.
Reducing holiday waste starts with simple, thoughtful actions. For instance, opting for reusable wrapping materials like fabric, newspaper or gift bags can cut down on waste significantly. Recycling correctly by following local guidelines prevents contamination and ensures that materials are processed effectively. Planning meals carefully can minimize food waste and choosing gifts with minimal packaging or experiences rather than physical items can reduce the overall environmental toll. While the Christmas craze brings joy, creating reduced levels of waste helps the environment in the end.
