Christmas Waste Reduction

Show us how you and your family reduce waste during the holiday season for a chance to win a great local prize pack!

Upcycling = the process of transforming waste or unwanted products into new items of higher value through creative reuse. Unlike recycling, which breaks down materials to be re-made, upcycling refashions items without destroying them.

Want to win?

• Like and follow Thunder Bay Solid Waste & Recycling Services on Facebook
• Post a photo or video to Facebook showcasing your upcycled holiday ornament
• Make sure you set that post to "public" and include the hashtag #HoHoHoldtheWaste so we can see it

The contest runs from Dec. 1 to Dec. 21, 2025. The winners will be announced on Dec. 22.

Judging

Entries will be judged according to:

- percentage of ornament made of upcycled materials
- ingenuity (as in, "who knew you could upcycle THAT?")
- durability - can be used year after year

Prizes

There will be two prizes:

• 1 prize for Youth category, up to 17 years of age: movie and bowling vouchers
• 1 prize for Adult category, 18 and up: a locally sourced gift basket  

Rules and Eligibility

Eligibility

• Open to all residents of the city of Thunder Bay.
• Entrants under 18 must have guardian's permission to enter.
• No purchase is necessary to enter or win.

Contest period

• The contest runs from Dec. 1 to 21, 2025.

How to enter

In order to win:

• Participants must 'Like' and/or 'Follow' Thunder Bay Solid Waste & Recycling Services on Facebook.
• Participants must post a photo or video on their Facebook page showcasing their upcycled holiday ornament.
  • The post must be set to 'public' so we can see it
• Posts must include the hashtag #HoHoHoldTheWaste.
• Entries must be on or before Dec. 21.

Prizes

• Each winner will receive a prize pack ("gift basket") containing a variety of local goods and/or gift certificates.
• Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.

Claiming prizes

• Winners will be contacted via Facebook and must respond within three business days to claim their prize.
• Prizes must be claimed in person.

General conditions

• By participating, entrants agree to the rules and decisions of the organizers.
• The City of Thunder Bay/Thunder Bay Solid Waste & Recycling Services reserves the right to disqualify any entrant who violates the rules or engages in any conduct detrimental to the contest or any other entrant, in its sole discretion.

Scam awareness

• Please be vigilant against fraud. At no point will you be asked to pay any fees or provide credit card information to enter the contest or claim your prize.
• All official communication will come directly from the Thunder Bay Solid Waste & Recycling Services Facebook profile.
• If you receive suspicious messages, please report them to us immediately.

Permission to use entries

• By entering the contest, participants grant the City of Thunder Bay/Thunder Bay Solid Waste & Recycling Services permission to use their posts, photos, or videos for promotional purposes.

Release and Limitations of Liability

• By participating, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the City of Thunder Bay/Thunder Bay Solid Waste & Recycling Services from any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the contest.

Privacy

• Personal information collected from participants will only be used for the purpose of administering the contest and awarding prizes.

PROS:

• Let’s face it - the FRAGRANCE!
• Purchasing local trees supports local tree farmers
• Natural trees can be recycled in the Christmas Tree Chipping Program
• Did you know you can harvest one tree for free on Crown Land? (contact the MNR for info)

CONS:

• A real, fresh-cut tree only lasts one season
• Natural trees need water as they are flammable if allowed to dry out

PROS:

• Can be reused season after season
• Come in a variety of colours and styles
• Don’t need watering like fresh-cut trees

CONS:

• No natural fragrance
• Can be pricier than fresh-cut trees
• Artificial trees have a higher carbon footprint than locally grown fresh-cut trees – but an artificial tree can be a responsible option if you use it for many years before it hits the landfill.

Use kraft paper, newspaper, cloth or reusable gift bags to wrap your gifts. (Wrapping paper is not recyclable because of its high ink content.)

Bring your natural Christmas tree to one of the many Christmas tree collection sites, where it will be chipped and then added to the compost pile at the City's landfill site.

Rather than disposable items, use reusable dishes, glassware, silverware and napkins.

Plan meals to avoid overbuying during the festive season and freeze leftover cooked meats and vegetables to use another day.

Or, if you would rather send a paper card, use cards with less ink content rather than cards that are laminated, foil-stamped or that have metallic ink.