# Greensource offers holiday waste-reduction tips for Lexington **Published:** 2023-11-15T19:35:33.000Z **Source:** [Bluegrass Greensource](https://bggreensource.org/small-changes-big-impact-holiday-edition/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/greensource-offers-holiday-waste-reduction-tips-for-lexington LEXINGTON, Ky. — [Bluegrass Greensource is urging residents to reduce holiday waste](https://bggreensource.org/small-changes-big-impact-holiday-edition/) with practical tips for gift-giving and decorating this season, from swapping traditional wrapping paper for recyclable alternatives to choosing gifts that minimize environmental impact. [Bluegrass Greensource, a nonprofit environmental education organization](https://bggreensource.org/), recommends avoiding glossy wrapping paper that cannot be recycled in Central Kentucky. Instead, shoppers should use brown shipping paper and other recyclable materials, or enlist children's creativity to decorate plain kraft paper with drawings and designs. For gift selection, the organization suggests avoiding single-use batteries by choosing battery-free gifts or including rechargeable alternatives with presents. Purchasing services instead of physical items—such as cooking classes, spa treatments or house cleaning—eliminates unnecessary landfill contributions while supporting local businesses, according to Bluegrass Greensource. Other recommendations include purchasing gifts made from recycled materials and shopping at local farmers markets and small businesses for holiday meal groceries. These choices align with [Lexington's Waste Reduction Week initiative](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/news/begin-your-holiday-season-waste-reduction-week), which emphasizes that household waste increases nearly 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. [The organization's motto is "Small changes, big impact,"](https://www.wkyt.com/2025/04/28/bluegrass-greensource-holds-sustainability-summit-uks-campus/) reflecting its mission to empower Central Kentuckians to create a sustainable environment. [Since its 2001 founding, Bluegrass Greensource has reached 22,219 community interactions in 2025 alone](https://msadvocate.com/stories/bluegrass-greensource-celebrates-25-years-of-environmental-impact-with-kickoff-event-botts-to-be,64427), delivering environmental education across 20 counties in Central Kentucky. The city of Lexington has also expanded its recycling resources, [accepting paper, cardboard, aluminum and tin cans, plastic bottles, and glass at its Recycle Center](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/living/waste-collection/about-recycling) and community drop-off locations. ## Sources - [Bluegrass Greensource](https://bggreensource.org/small-changes-big-impact-holiday-edition/) - [Bluegrass Greensource environmental nonprofit](https://bggreensource.org/) - [Lexington Waste Reduction Week](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/news/begin-your-holiday-season-waste-reduction-week) - [Bluegrass Greensource 2025 annual report](https://msadvocate.com/stories/bluegrass-greensource-celebrates-25-years-of-environmental-impact-with-kickoff-event-botts-to-be,64427) - [City of Lexington recycling information](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/living/waste-collection/about-recycling) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Bluegrass Greensource, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://bggreensource.org/small-changes-big-impact-holiday-edition/.