Regifting gets a bad reputation, but upcycling? That’s creativity at its finest. December’s waste stream is full of materials that can be repurposed instead of tossed. It’s eco-friendly, budget-friendly, and surprisingly fun.
Upcycle These Holiday Leftovers
Cardboard Boxes
Perfect for moving, storage, kids’ forts, garage organization, or even fire starters (plain cardboard only).
Holiday Cards
Cut them into gift tags, bookmarks, or next year’s decorative labels.
Tissue Paper
Crumple it and use it as packing filler for storage bins or fragile items.
Ribbon & Bows
Store them in a bag and reuse them indefinitely. They’re the easiest waste item to keep out of the landfill.
Shipping Peanuts
Many shipping stores accept clean peanuts for reuse—great for January returns.
Broken Ornaments
Turn them into mosaic art, wreath accents, or a reflective garden piece.
The “Absolutely Not” Upcycle List
Some items are better left in the bin:
- Meat trays
- Batteries
- Wrapping paper coated in glitter
- Broken glass
- Old candles full of debris
- Plastic utensils
These can contaminate recycling streams or pose safety risks.
A Little Creativity Goes a Long Way
Upcycling reduces waste, saves money, and gives materials an extra life. December generates the most household waste of the year—the more we reuse, the better for everyone.