Save time, money and the planet with King County’s Waste Free Holidays promotion

With more than 150 great gift ideas to choose from – including many affordable options – King County’s Waste Free Holidays program could be the perfect solution for your holiday shopping list and your budget.

Now in its 13^th year, Waste Free Holidays encourages giving an “experience” gift, such as theatre or concert tickets, gift certificates to a restaurant or even dance lessons. All of the participating Waste Free Holiday partners offer their items with discounts ranging from 15 to 50 percent.

“As a nation, we create a mountain of waste between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, and giving someone an experience gift can help reduce the amount of trash that’s going into landfills,” said Tom Watson, manager of the Waste Free Holidays program for King County.

“Participating in Waste Free Holidays not only helps cut the waste, but with discounts of 15 percent or more, this program will also help keep some ‘green’ in your wallet.”

Some of the new items available at big discounts from Waste Free Holidays this year include:

• Cooking lessons from one of two cooking schools;
• Tickets to a night of basketball magic with the Harlem Globetrotters at the new events center in Kent, or with the University of Washington men’s basketball team in Seattle; and
• Electric boat rentals on Lake Union with the Electric Boat Company.

Returning partners include:

• Nearly two dozen restaurants;
• One dozen museums;
• The Pacific Northwest Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker;
• The Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center and King County’s Evergreen Swimming Pool;
• The “Battle in Seattle” men’s college basketball match at Key Arena, featuring Gonzaga vs. Connecticut;
• More than 30 musical performances; and
• Nearly 20 massage therapists.

Purchases at the discounted price can be made Nov. 15-Dec. 31 by contacting the partners directly. Details on all the offers and the participating partners will be posted at www.wastefreeholidays.com beginning Nov. 13.

King County's Waste Free Holidays encourages residents to think about the environment while shopping this holiday season. For more information, visit www.wastefreeholidays.com, or contact Watson at 206-296-4481 or tom.watson@kingcounty.gov.