Imagine if you will… it’s Christmas morning and your kids are tearing through their presents, tossing bits of wrapping paper all over the place. Sure, you tried to reduce the waste with gift bags or other reusable gift wrap, but there’s always still some paper trash to be had. Then there’s the packaging from the toys that you open, and the mess starts piling up. The solution for most folks? A garbage bag. Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a giant plastic bag nearby to shove all the trash into as you go. That’s just the way it goes, right?
Oh, but we’ve got a better idea! A reader named Kathy told us about her family’s way of dealing with the mess and we just love it. They take a large, empty box and wrap the sides, then set it near the tree. On Christmas morning, it’s so easy to toss all the trash inside. She shared a photo with us of her family using the trash box on Christmas morning, and you’ll notice that the box looks perfectly at home around all the people and gifts. Much better than an ugly plastic bag would look!
I created my own trash box for Christmas this year, and I soon realized it can serve double duty. My husband and I always spend Christmas day with family at my sister’s house, and that means packing up our gifts in whatever bag or box we can find. Oooh, but what if we used the trash box as a carrying box, too? Then once it’s unloaded, we can use it for trash!
I just realized that I should make two boxes, and I could use one for recyclable items and the other for stuff destined for the trash. That sure would make it easy to be as green as possible with our Christmas morning waste.
This trash box idea works for parties and other gift-giving events, too. Imagine how much more elegant a bridal shower would be with a lovely wrapped box for trash instead of a giant Hefty!
12 comments so far:
I’ve been making these for years because I didn’t like seeing big black trash bags in our family Christmas photos.
Another good thing about the trash gift boxes is that someone ALWAYS throws out a gift or a part of a gift (ie: a small part to a toy) and it’s MUCH easier, cleaner and more pleasant to search through the gift wrap box than it is to have to search through the regular trash where food and drinks might also have been thrown.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Wow!! What a great idea. It seems so easy I feel like I should have thought of that years ago. We will be definitely be using a trash box this year!
Thank YOU, Kathy, for sharing the tip with us. That’s a great point about the inevitable lost part!
Susan, that’s exactly what I thought
This is a great idea. I love it. Thank you!
This is a great idea. I will tell others.
Thanks!
Pattyjo
Kathy, Fabulous idea! The only downside was telling my son that the big present wasn’t for him. I also tell a lot of people about your idea of putting extra bags at the bottom of the regular kitchen trash can under the main one so I don’t have to go looking for the box. You are my very own Martha Stewart!!!
This is a terrific idea! My first thought was…I wonder if I could find 2 boxes that are close in size and would nest. I could tuck a garbage bag around the inner box and it would still be concealed by the big box. Then when it has to go outside, just pull the bag and dispose. Then the pretty box is still available to carry gifts back home.
Nice idea, Anita!
Again, a great idea. My siblings and I always used to dislike having to be on black (garbage) bag duty! And Anita’s is a great idea
I will often wrap gifts in Rubbermaid totes (especially gifts that are hard to wrap), then the recipient has something to carry their gifts home in (and who can’t use another Rubbermaid tote?). The only downside is that it takes more wrapping paper, so sometimes if the gift is much smaller than the tote, I will wrap the gift itself, place it inside the tote, and then tie the tote up with ribbon and a bow. Also, I love the extremely cheap, re-useable bags from IKEA, so I will buy a few extra and slip them in with gifts, which also makes a handy way to carry gifts home.
Those are very thoughtful and clever ideas, Twinkletoes! I especially like the idea of using the Rubbermaid tote as the packaging and not wrapping it, because it’s such an environmentally-friendly solution.
Awesome idea – did it this year and worked wonders!!! couldn’t believe how much more paper fits in the box than a garbage bag also!!