The feasts have been enjoyed, the presents have been opened and 2026 is about to get real.
For those who want to start the new year with less clutter and a more sustainable mindset, Tucson Clean & Beautiful (TCB) offers timely and simple suggestions for gifting yourself — and the environment.
“There are six ‘Rs’: reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse, rethink and repair. I would like to say that recycling is the last thing on the list that we can do to reduce waste ... there are so many things we can do before we get to ‘recycle’ to reduce waste,” said Kate Gannon, Executive Director of TCB.
For 40 years, the environmental advocacy and action nonprofit has been dedicated to preserving and improving the environment, conserving natural resources, and enhancing quality of life in Tucson and Pima County. TCB offers educational and hands-on programs in recycling and waste reduction, land stewardship, urban forestry and beautification. It works in partnership with government agencies, community groups, businesses, and a force of more than 1,000 volunteers. Funding for programming and services is obtained through grants, memberships and monetary and in-kind donations.
“We are the platform for volunteer environmental action in Tucson," Gannon said. "We are planting trees, picking up litter, installing rain gardens and working with the community — neighbors, volunteers and youth — on all of these activities."
In the new year, she encourages people to move volunteerism — which in and of itself can be considered a form of “recycling personal time and energy” — to the top of their sustainable to-do lists.
Volunteers are the foundation of TCB efforts geared to benefit the community, including Trees for Tucson and large-scale tree-plantings, many of which are collaborations with the City of Tucson’s Tucson Million Trees Initiative. The plantings take place in neighborhoods with low rankings on the City of Tucson’s Climate Hub tree equity score. These tend to be in lower socio-economic communities with high rates of poverty, unemployment and other risk factors.
Tucson Clean & Beautiful supporters (pictured above) encourage people to volunteer for its sustainability programs, which include Trees for Tucson. Tree plantings are held weekly on Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m., January through March.
“These are neighborhoods with low tree canopies, or not a lot of trees," Gannon said. "There are often high proportions of elderly or very young people. These are folks with potentially more vulnerability to respiratory issues and extreme heat. It is also well established that communities of color have fewer trees than more white communities that are more affluent."
TCB makes it easy and convenient for all ages (parents must be present or sign consent forms for youth under age 18) to volunteer. The first tree planting of 2026 is in the Elvira Neighborhood at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 801 W. Calle Medina; the schedule for other plantings is posted at https://tucsoncleanandbeautiful.org/events/.
“Everyone can get involved and participate with Tucson Clean & Beautiful," Gannon said. "In just a couple of hours on Saturday morning, you can meet others and learn about trees on our beautiful winter days. From 9 to 11 a.m. almost every Saturday, we are out there doing something."
Beyond volunteerism, Gannon said that people can start close to home by viewing every aspect of their lives through a sustainable lens.
That can begin immediately with TreeCycle (https://www.tucsonaz.gov/treecycle), a TCB-supported project with the City of Tucson Environmental and General Services. The program offers free recycling of Christmas trees at 10 different sites in Tucson, Vail and Oro Valley through Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
All ornaments, tinsel and lights must be removed from trees prior to recycling; the trees are then turned to mulch, which TCB utilizes in its tree-planting projects year-round.
During post-holiday cleanup, old, broken and unwanted strings of holiday lights can also be diverted from landfills and recycled through The Reid park Zoo partnership with Recyco Inc. Strings of light can be dropped in bins at the zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Ct., and at Recyco, located at 5851 E. 22nd St. and at 650 E. 22nd St.
Cleaning and clearing out your home after the holidays can provide an opportunity to declutter and pass on items you may no longer need to others who will find value in them. You can do that through The Freecycle Network (https://www.freecycle.org/), a nonprofit dedicated to helping people give and get items for free, is gearing up for its busiest day of the year on Jan. 2.
Founded in Tucson in 2003 by Deron Beal, the grassroots effort has grown to almost 12 million members with 5,332 groups in more than 100 countries. Tucson and surrounding areas have more than 15,000 members. The platform offers everything that people might find in closets, yards, sheds, homes and garages. That includes computers and electronics, musical instruments, supplies for crafts and hobbies, sporting equipment, tools and much more.
Moving forward in 2026, Gannon suggests that people continue to find creative ways to incorporate the “6 Rs” by viewing everything through a sustainable lens.
“Whenever we wrap presents, use paper and bags that are reused and use recycled bows and string that might be used for something else. Give gifts that are utilitarian and regift items that you aren’t using. All of these decisions that we make every day make a difference,” Gannon said.
She also suggests that people “refuse” to purchase items packaged in oversized plastic containers.
“Try to think about purchasing items without all that packaging and bring your own bag to the grocery store,” she said.
Additionally, Gannon encourages thrifting items whenever possible.
“I buy thrifted clothing. That is another area with a huge amount of waste: Throw-away fashion,” she said.
Ultimately, Gannon thinks the beginning of the new year can be an opportunity to slow down and reassess how our personal choices can impact the environment now and in the future.
“It is a mindset, and the wonderful thing is that these choices saves money and improve the environment," Gannon said. "Many people, especially folks who are low-income, have been doing these things anyway to save money and they are champions of the ‘6 Rs.’ We are an incredibly consumptive culture ... but there are all kinds of ways to give back that don’t involve buying."
