Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas from NYS DEC
A Lasting Gift for Valentine’s Day
Roses are red, Violets are blue, and Cut flowers don’t last, So what do you do?
Composting Your Flowers—Roses and other cut flowers are common gifts that let someone know you care about them. However, this symbol of love only lasts a week or two. These spent flowers are a great addition to the compost pile. Cut the stems into pieces six inches or smaller for best results so they’ll degrade more quickly.
Don’t waste the love, waste-conscious gift ideas:
A live potted plant.
Flower seeds or bulbs that can be planted in the warmer weather.
A donation to an organization valued by your loved one.
Gift an experience or plan an adventure together.
Travel around to New York State Parks with the Empire Pass.
For an environmentally friendly card, avoid purchasing cards with shiny elements – bonus points for choosing cards with as much recycled content as possible or using upcycled materials to DIY!
Let’s also love our recycling and recycle right!
Don’t Recycle these items:
Paper products with metal, foil, glittery, or large plastic components.
Plastic inserts, fake credit cards, and other hard plastic cards.
Receipts.
Soiled paper plates, bowls, takeout boxes, etc.
Posted: February 13th, 2025 under Environmental News, General News, State Government News, Statewide News.