Green Holiday Guide

Make your holidays Spartan Green by following these helpful ideas.

Rethink

Buy Durable, Locally-Produced Products
Many products made today are not meant to last. Think about the long-term use of a product you are about to buy. The cheapest item may not be the least expensive if you have to replace it often.
Tip: Buy a gift card to the Dairy Store and other campus locations from MSU Stores.

Cut Down on Trips
Plan your trips before you leave, and be prepared to purchase all the items you need. Research the availability and price of products you want to purchase to help cut down on time, trips, and gas use.
Tip: An alternative transportation solution is the Zip Car program on campus.

Turn Down the Heat For Your Party
How many times have you been at a party where they had to open a window or door to let excess heat out? Body heat and the warmth generated from food preparation can quickly build up in a home. Turn down the heat in your home prior to guests arriving to conserve energy.

Reduce

Use Fewer Bags 
Approximately 380 billion plastic bags are produced each year. Reuse bags from home or purchase durable tote bags that can be used multiple times.
Tip: Buy an MSU Surplus Store & Recycling reusable shopping bag

Give Handcrafted Gifts 
Reduce waste by making handcrafted gifts from items from around the home or repurposed items from the Surplus Store. 
Tip: Follow us on Pinterest for previews of items at the MSU Surplus Store, as well as DIY and craft ideas.

Give the Gift of Education 
Invest in a future Spartan’s education savings instead of buying material gifts. College Savings Plans are easy to open and contribute to, and they are a great way to provide a lasting impact for a loved one.

Reuse

Buy Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable batteries cost a little more up front, but they can be recharged hundreds of times, resulting in big savings over their lifetime. Rechargeable batteries are best used in moderate- to high-use devices such as digital cameras and Wii remotes.
Tip:  When rechargeable batteries do eventually run out, please recycle them. Numerous local businesses and municipalities accept them, enter your address at Call 2 Recycle to find locations in your area.

Be a Surplustomer
There’s no better place to be green than at the MSU Surplus Store, where all of our products are for reuse.

Reuse Packaging Peanuts
If you don't have a way to reuse them yourself, packaging peanuts are collected by UPS, Pak Mail, and others to be reused in the shipping process.
Tip: The City of East Lansing has a list of local locations that accept Styrofoam peanuts. 

Recycle

Live-cut Christmas Trees 
Christmas trees can be chipped and used as mulch around trees and on trails or used to make compost. Most local municipalities accept live-cut trees for recycling.
Tip: Enter your zip code at Earth 911 for a list of local tree recycling locations.

Wrapping Paper
Wrapping paper can be recycled as Mixed Paper at our Public Drop-off Center. Please do not recycle foil-embossed or plastic foil wrapping paper.
Tip: Look for alternative, reusable materials for wrapping gifts, such as fabric, comics, or coloring book pages.

Christmas Cards
Recycle Christmas cards as Mixed Paper at our Public Drop-off Center, and purchase cards made with recycled content. Better yet, eliminate waste by sending electronic greeting cards.
Tip: Buy recycled greeting cards from St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, and donate your old cards to them once the holidays are over.

For more ways to reduce holiday waste, get ideas from EcoCycle, Earth 911, and the EPA.