It came without packaging! It came without trash! It came without plastic, no ribbon, no sash!

When you are hanging stockings with care and decking the halls this holiday season, think about the impact your choices can have on the environment and consider creating memories rather than garbage.

The amount of waste generated throughout the province increases over the holidays. This is why the Ministry of Environment is asking British Columbians to give memorable gifts that are green, sustainable, or recyclable - gifts that won't end up in a landfill.

Have skiers on your list? How about getting them a ski pass for a local mountain so they can enjoy a winter wonderland in one of the beautiful BC Parks such as Cypress Mountain or Mount Seymour? Grandma got run over by a reindeer? Why not treat her to a relaxing visit to a spa and let her unwind?

Other memory-making ideas include:

• Tickets to a play, concert or sporting event.
• A romantic dinner at a favourite restaurant.
• Membership or passes to a gym or local recreation centre.
• Passes to local attractions.
• Classes such as art, cooking or music.

By giving a gift that can be shared with family, friends, and loved ones you are creating an experience to remember instead of giving something that can be tossed away and forgotten.

If you are still tempted by the blitz of new electronics available this holiday season, take heart - B.C. has more options than ever for recycling and keeping your holiday season green.

British Columbians receiving the latest laptops, smartphones, HD televisions, video games and cameras may be wondering what they should do with their old devices. It's simple - recycle them. Where it was once commonplace just to toss your old rabbit ears into the trash, it is vital people understand how easy it is now to recycle old electronics.

The fifth and final phase of B.C.'s electronic waste program was introduced on July 1, 2012, and gives people more options to recycle a variety of products, including power tools, sewing machines, electronic toys, and IT equipment. The B.C. government also runs Asset Investment Recovery warehouses in Victoria and Surrey where the public can drop off old electronics to be destroyed. For a fee of $2.50 or less, old hard drives and data devices can be shredded, eliminating any personal information contained on them.

Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza or Festivus, all this holiday cheer may result in a few extra bottles around the house. Need to know the best place to recycle a certain product? Grab that shiny new smartphone and download the Recycling Council of British Columbia's Recyclepedia app.

This app provides users a list of the 10 nearest locations to recycle your item, based on the phone's location, as well as a map with directions. If apps aren't your thing, you can also access the website at: http://rcbc.bc.ca/recyclepedia

If you want to kick it old-school and talk to a real live person, call the Recycle Hotline at:
1 800 667-4321.

Quick Facts:

• British Columbia has more recycling programs than any other jurisdiction in North America.
• The Create Memories Not Garbage is a holiday campaign initiated by Metro Vancouver and is being used in communities throughout the province this holiday season.
• B.C. continues to be a leader for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, which put the onus on producers to take full responsibility for the collection and recycling of their products and packaging. In July 2012, B.C. was awarded the highest ranking in the country for EPR programs on EPR Canada's national report card.
• B.C.'s expanded electronic-waste programs is the first of its kind in Canada and North America.
• Since becoming an authorized Encorp Return-It Electronics Centre in late 2007, the Asset Investment Recovery (AIR) warehouses in Victoria and Surrey have diverted over two million kilograms of electronic waste from landfills.
• In addition to the Return-it program which deals with electronics (computers, stereos and TV's), AIR warehouses partner with Product Care to recycle small appliances (microwaves, toasters, coffee makers and vacuums).
• Drop off Centres for the AIR warehouses are located in Victoria at 4234 Glanford Ave. and in Surrey at 8307 - 130th St. The centres are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (excluding holidays).

Learn More:

B.C. Newsroom - Ministry of Environment: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/ministries/environment-1

Recycling Council of BC: http://rcbc.bc.ca/

Asset Investment Recovery: http://www.pss.gov.bc.ca/air/

Metro Vancouver's Create Memories Not Garbage campaign: http://www.metrovancouver.org/christmas

Contact:

Ministry of Environment Communications
250 387-9630