gift cards

Maybe that sweater Grandma gave you isn’t your style, or the neighbor’s well-intended gift card missed the mark?  Don’t stash those things in the back of the closet or the bottom kitchen drawer.  They can benefit other people, or even give you a chance to trade it for a gift you would use and enjoy.

If the item is clothing, you may be able to determine where it was purchased by the brand name.  Search online by the name on the tag, and it will probably point you in the right direction.  Even without a receipt you can sometimes return an unused item.  The dollar amount offered may be at the item’s last sale price, but if you can turn a sweater you’d never wear into an on-sale shirt you like, that’s a win!  If you can’t find a brand name for a store near you, or you suspect it may be a re-gifted item that’s not current stock, you can either re-gift it yourself, or donate it to a charity shop who will put it to good use.

If you received a household item, small appliance, or a pillow with a silly slogan, you can sometimes determine the store where it was purchased and return it for a store credit or partial refund.  If not, consider unloading the unwanted item in a way that will make someone else smile when they receive it, by finding a “Buy Nothing” community in your area.  The Buy Nothing Project is an international network of local gift economies. Buy Nothing offers people a way to give and receive, share, lend, and express gratitude through a worldwide network of gift economies in which the true wealth is the web of connections formed between people who are real-life neighbors.  There is a long list for communities in Virginia.  Their tag line is, “Buy Nothing Share Everything!”

What if you received a gift card to an establishment you would never use?  First, check with your friends and family members to see if anyone would want to trade it for a gift card that may not suit them.  You can also put the gift cards on the market for sale (at a reduced rate) on Raise.com.  Or you can donate them to a charity that will be able to put them to good use.

If, on the other hand, you received a gift card that was the perfect choice, once you’ve redeemed it DON’T THROW IT IN THE TRASH!  Most plastic cards are made with petroleum-based products, and while they can’t be recycled through your curbside recycling bins, there are some no-waste options.  First, check with the retailer who issued the card.  Some retailers reuse the cards, and some collect cards to send to recycling centers that handle PVC recycling.  Or offer your redeemed cards to crafters, art teachers, or kids.  The thin plastic can be punched and upcycled into guitar picks, small flat circles for bracelets, or constructed into other creations.  And lastly, Best Buy (who recycles so many things!) accepts used gift cards to be sent to a facility that recycles that kind of plastic.

So with a little bit of effort you can start the new year in a low-waste way!