The holiday rush is here, and with it come mountains of shipping boxes, bubble wrap, shopping bags, food waste, single-use plastics and decorations.
As deliveries and holiday calendar events pile up, so does our responsibility to manage the waste. So, let’s “unwrap” the holiday season and explore simple ways we can celebrate sustainably in the Florida Keys.
Recently, I received a package adorned with that famous happy-arrow logo. Inside? Layer upon layer of packaging. Sound familiar? Let’s break down what to do with all those materials:
Holiday packaging — what goes where?
- Cardboard boxes: are recyclable — flatten and remove packaging. Tape & labels can stay on.
- Plastic shipping bags, bubble wrap and air pillows: Recycle at retail stores that accept plastic bags. These are not accepted in curbside recycling. Reuse when possible; it works great for the puppy park pick-ups.
- Foam peanuts and protective foam: Recycle at Publix foam recycling bins (where available).Not accepted in curbside recycling.
- Gift wrap & bows: Glitter, foil, and embellished paper and ribbons cannot be recycled. Use newspaper, craft paper or magazine pages instead.
- Envelopes: Recyclable, even with the plastic window.
- Greeting cards: Recyclable if free of glitter or garland.
Holiday meals = food waste
The holidays bring feasts and festivities — and a lot of food waste. According to the EPA, about 33% of the food produced in the United States ends up in landfills. Let’s change that!
- Plan meals & avoid over-buying.
- Ask for RSVPs and delegate dishes.
- Share leftovers — send guests home with reusable containers.
- Donate extra food to neighbors or local kitchens.
When preparing meals, collect your food scraps in a reused coffee can or dairy container. Freezing scraps is ideal until drop-off — it reduces odors and keeps pests away.
Food waste drop-off
Now through Feb. 4, 2026, Monroe County residents are invited to participate in a free food waste drop-off pilot program in the Upper Keys. Sponsored by Baptist Health, SoilMate Compost Farm will collect food waste from three designated collection sites for composting.
Dropoff sites are: Atlantic Trash & Transfer, 300 Atlantic Dr., Key Largo; Coral Isles Church (behind fellowship hall) 90001 Overseas Highway, Tavernier; and Ocean Studies Charter School (behind playground) 11-27 Rock Harbor Dr., Key Largo.
More information is at your-soilmate.com/page/monroe.
In the Lower Keys, check for community compost sites at MakeSoil.org
Choose reusables, ‘Skip the Stuff’
Another simple way to reduce holiday waste is to use reusable dishes and cutlery whenever possible.
Did you know, according to Forbes Magazine, approximately 40 billion plastic utensils are discarded each year in the U.S.? Most are single-use and end up in landfills — or our oceans.
When ordering takeout, remember to “Skip the Stuff”:
- Say no to single-use utensils.
- Decline condiment packets, straws, plastic bags and napkins.
- Bring your own reusable bag.
Holiday lights recycling
Every December, we dig out the decorations — and inevitably find strands of lights that worked last year but not this year. What to do? Good news! You can recycle broken or old holiday lights.
Holiday lights recycling collection is going on now through Jan. 15 at Home Depot stores in Marathon and Key West. These lights will be recycled and given a second life in the electronics industry!
Give the gift that keeps on giving — sustainability. Wishing you a joyful, sustainable holiday season in the Florida Keys!Questions can be directed to tuschel-melody@monroecounty-fl.gov.
