Raina Genaw

Valentine’s Day is a great time to celebrate your loved ones, and the Earth, too! Did you know that each Valentine’s Day, about 36 million heart-shaped boxes¹, 250 million roses², and 145 million cards³ are sold in the US alone? Many of these items are not recyclable due to glitter, foil, plastic, glue, and fabric adornments, and of those that are recyclable, less than 60% are sent to recycling facilities by consumers.⁴ Our waste problem in America is steadily growing, and as landfills fill up, we have less options for how to dispose of our waste. Read on to find out how you can help shrink your waste this Valentine’s Day.

1. Consider how to reduce, reuse, or recycle packaging before buying

Over 7.6 million meters (1,420 football fields) of plastic waste is produced each year in the US from Valentine celebrations and gifts.⁵ This year, make sure to choose your gifts with packaging in mind. First, consider ways to provide a gift with less packaging. Can you skip the wrapping paper, or is there a similar gift available with less packaging? Have you tried sourcing gifts locally to avoid extra packaging used for shipping? Second, consider if the packaging is reusable. Could the packaging be used again, such as a fabric bag or glass jar? Will the recipient use the packaging for another purpose, such as crafting? Lastly, consider if the packaging is recyclable. Packaging with glitter or foil elements is generally not recyclable, and only 21% of recyclables make it to a recycling facility.⁴ Will your gift receiver recycle their packaging? Cedar Falls and Waterloo do not have residential recycling pickup, but recyclables can be dropped off at a recycling drop-off site for processing. If you have questions about recycling and waste disposal in Blackhawk County, visit https://wastetrac.org/ for more information. 

2. Skip the cards

145 million cards (not including children’s Valentines) are sold each Valentine’s Day in the US alone.³ Many cards are not recyclable due to glitter, foil, plastic, glue, and fabric adornments, and even cards that are recyclable often end up in the landfill. Instead of making more waste, let’s skip the card-giving this year and instead opt for more sustainable alternatives like eCards or baked goods. If your heart is set on a card, create one yourself using recycled materials or make sure your store-bought card is recyclable. 

If you do receive a card this holiday, make sure to reuse or recycle it. Reuse is always better than recycling, so aim to get creative and craft with your cards this Valentine’s Day. Cards are a great material for framed artwork, junk journaling, scrapbooking, and general crafting!

3. Gift meaningful local experiences instead of items

Items create waste, but experiences create memories. Great local experiences in the Cedar Falls-Waterloo area include concerts, sporting events, escape rooms, educational experiences, and art classes. You may also consider volunteering with a loved one at your favorite local charities to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Quality time together always makes a great gift! For more information on volunteer opportunities in the Cedar Valley, visit the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at https://www.vccv.org/

4. Give thrifted or handmade gifts

Thrifted or handmade items provide the feel of something new without the extra waste of plastic packaging. You can thrift traditional gifts like jewelry and home decor, or less-traditional gifts like clothing and kitchenwares. The added benefit of thrifting is that you are rescuing items that would have otherwise ended up in the landfill, often at affordable prices! For a non-comprehensive list of antique and thrift stores, visit Cedar Falls Tourism at https://www.cedarfallstourism.org/things-to-do/shopping/antique-shops/

5. Use reusable packaging such as fabric bags for gifting

Instead of single-use wrapping paper, consider using reusable fabric bags for gifting. This not only keeps waste out of the landfill, but it also provides a practical bag for the receiver to use endlessly. If you’re set on the experience of opening a gift and tearing off wrapping paper, consider reusable fabric wrapping paper for your gift-giving. For instructions on how to create your own reusable gift wrap, visit Quilters Candy at https://quilterscandy.com/reusable-gift-wrap. For instructions on making simple gift bags, check out Suburble at https://www.suburble.com/2014/12/make-reusable-christmas-wrap.html

6. Buy live plants or fruit instead of red roses

Nearly 250 million roses are produced each year in the US for Valentine’s Day.² Unfortunately, most end up in the trash within a week. Instead of gifting flowers, consider alternatives like live plants or fruit. If you do receive flowers this Valentine’s Day, make sure to compost them. This returns nutrients to the Earth and keeps our landfills from filling with preventable waste. For basic information on composting, check out this publication from the Iowa DNR at https://www.iowadnr.gov/media/3378/download?inline

Works Cited

1. Pierre-Nicolas Schwab, 14 Feb 2021. “Valentine’s Day Figures.” Into The Minds. https://www.intotheminds.com/blog/en/valentines-day-figures/

2. Society of American Florists, 2022. “Valentine’s Day Floral Statistics.” https://safnow.org/aboutflowers/holidays-occasions/valentines-day/valentines-day-floral-statistics/

3. Hallmark, 2025. "About Valentine's Day." Hallmark.com. https://www.hallmark.com/about-valentines-day/

4. The Recycling Partnership, 2024. “State of Recycling: The Present and Future of

Residential Recycling in the U.S.” PDF, pg 17. https://recyclingpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2024/01/Recycling-Partnership-State-of-Recycling-Report-1.12.24.pdf

5. Garrison, Anna, 2025. "Here's Exactly How Much Waste Americans Produce for Valentine's Day Every Year." Green Matters. Accessed Dec 12, 2025. https://www.greenmatters.com/big-impact/what-happens-to-valentines-day-waste

About The Author

Raina Genaw is serving as an Education and Outreach Coordinator with Green Iowa AmeriCorps at Black Hawk County Public Health and Black Hawk County Solid Waste Management Commission. The Black Hawk County partnership is focused on food and municipal waste reduction through educational initiatives and community projects.

Raina is passionate about the environment and enjoys being in the company of other environmental educators through her volunteer work as the Workshop Coordinator for the Iowa Association of Naturalists. When not at the office, you can find Raina frolicking in the forest, crafting, or hanging out with her pet hedgehog, Gnocchi.