As the holiday season swings into full gear, a stark reminder hits us: the holidays aren't just about cheer, they're about waste too. According to the City of Raleigh report, the US sees a 25 percent surge in waste production during the festive period—a staggering extra million tons per week heading straight for the landfill. With recycling facilities overwhelmed and "wish-cycling" on the rise, it's crucial we get smarter about our holiday habits.

The culprit? Look no further than the mountains of discarded gift wrapping. As per the information shared by the City of Raleigh official website, a mind-boggling 2.3 million pounds of wrapping paper is estimated to find its way to landfills every year. And while we love to see gifts dressed up in fancy paper, much of it isn't even recyclable, especially if it's decked out in glitter, plastic, or foil. There's a simple trick to test if wrapping paper can join the recycling bandwagon, dubbed "The Scrunch Test." Scrunch the paper into a ball – if it stays scrunched, you're good to go. If it unfolds, it's trash bound.

But there's an even better way to tread lightly on the environment during our holiday festivities: reuse. It's a move that not only spares your wallet but also gives another life to items that would otherwise be overlooked. Think outside the box with brown paper grocery bags, cookie tins, magazines, newspapers, paper maps, reusable bags, and sheet music. All viable, all responsible—that's the spirit the holidays need.

Then there's the elegant art of furoshiki, the time-honored Japanese practice of wrapping gifts in fabric—bandanas, scarves, or any cloth scrap that can beautify a gift and be repurposed later. Not only does this add a personal touch to your present, but it's also a zero-waste approach endorsed by City of Raleigh official website, that's chic and sustainable.

It's clear, the gift of giving can and should extend to how we care for our planet. By rethinking the way, we package our presents, we’re not just spreading holiday cheer, but we're also safeguarding the environment for many more celebrations to come.