Valentine’s Day is about care, intention, and connection. The most meaningful gifts are rarely the most expensive or flashy, but the ones that show thought, time, and heart. Love should last longer than a single day, and the same goes for the things we give. This Valentine’s Day, Big Reuse invites you to celebrate in a way that feels thoughtful, low waste, and rooted in care for both the people you love and the world you share. Small choices can turn Valentine’s Day into something more meaningful and less disposable.
Here are a few ways to show love without creating extra waste:
Choose a Living Gift Instead of Cut Flowers
Fresh bouquets are beautiful, but they often travel long distances and are enjoyed for only a short time. A potted plant offers something that grows and stays, bringing life into a home long after Valentine’s Day has passed. Plants like snake plants, spider plants, aloe, or bamboo are easy to care for and make lasting reminders of love.
Thrift for Your Loved Ones
Finding a gift secondhand adds meaning to the love and appreciation you have for a loved one. Especially if these are items like clothes, books, and homegoods that can be vintage or bring out a nostalgic feeling. Visit our Gowanus Reuse Center at 1 12th St, Brooklyn, or stop by our Bushwick Reuse Center at 378 Troutman St, Brooklyn, to find something meaningful that gives love a second life.
Say It In Your Own Words
Instead of a store-bought card, take a moment to write something personal on recycled paper or get creative by personalizing something you already own. A note, letter, or even a few handwritten lines can mean far more than something printed and packaged. These are the kinds of gifts people keep, reread, and carry with them.
Wrap Gifts with Care and Creativity
A lot of wrapping paper isn’t recyclable, but there are plenty of simple alternatives. Reuse paper you already have, wrap gifts in fabric, or skip wrapping altogether and present the gift in a reusable bag or container. Sometimes the most thoughtful presentation is the simplest one.
Share a Meal that Feels Intentional
Food is one of the oldest ways we show love. Supporting local businesses or cooking a meal together at home keeps Valentine’s Day grounded and meaningful. Digging up simple recipes or picking out a nice cozy restaurant is a great way to spend time with a loved one.
Turn Valentine's Day into a Moment of Learning for Kids
Valentine’s Day can be a chance to slow down and share simple, meaningful activities together. Kids can make handmade cards, decorate reusable gift bags, plant seeds or small potted plants, write kindness notes for family or neighbors, or help put together a small secondhand gift.
Give Time as a Gift
Volunteering with loved ones is a meaningful way to connect while showing care for the environment that we share. Spend time together at our street tree care volunteer events, support community soil through composting volunteer events, or help neighbors build everyday habits by getting involved in curbside composting outreach program. It’s a simple way to turn love into action and make a lasting impact beyond Valentine’s Day.
Written by NYSERDA Fellow Tatiana Guerra