I received these handy tips in my mail recently, from Boulder, Colorado’s fabulous local recycler eco-cycle. They’re worth taking into consideration this holiday season:

1. BYOB (Bring your own bag)

Stow reusable bags in your car, so you don’t forget. In addition ecocycle suggests saying no to all of the stickers, tissue paper and ribbons that tend to come with even the smallest holiday purchases.

With all of us waiting with baited breath to see what kind of crazy turn the economy will take next, even recycling centers from coast to coast are asking “Where to we go from here?” In the past decade, recycling has become standard protocol, but we may start to see some changes in what our city recycling centers will accept.

This Christmas, being creative doesn’t just have to mean picking out cool gifts for friends and family. Get them at “hello” with a fresh, unique D.I.Y. wrapping paper and save some cash along the way. Besides, the extra effort and patience will surely win you some brownie points.

Here’s a beautiful, earth-friendly, waste-free wrapping alternative for your holiday gifts: ZenWraps. Based on the Japanese technique called furoshiki, these gorgeous, reusable, biodegradable fabric wraps (made with 100% organic cotton, hemp, or silk) make gift giving an eco-pleasure. The ZenWrap website provides simple online wrapping instructions, and there’s no tape, ribbon, or tools required.