Bath bombs, candles and hot chocolate mugs galore–what to do with all of those less-than-desirable holiday presents you know will do no better than just sit and collect dust? While I do appreciate all acts of kindness expressed through gift giving, especially during the holiday season, I have a tendency to accumulate clutter in the form of presents, and I assume you do too.

Pinterest, Instagram and even the world of YouTube provide endless ideas for one of my favorite post-holiday activities: upcycling. Candles can be decorated or the jar can be repurposed, random T-shirts can be resewn into blankets or scarves and those canvases with random quotes like “live, laugh, love,” can be painted over, giving you total control over the gifts you’ve received.

Upcycling is not only a great way to enjoy your gifts but also prevents landfills from overflowing especially this time of year. Americans throw away 25% more trash during the holiday season than any other time of year. This eco-friendly method of going from drab to fab can easily be done by a simple internet search where the opportunities are endless.

If putting in the extra work doesn’t sound so appealing, fear not. Save those bags, and your cash, by regifting that bath set you’ve gotten every year. As long as your family is not the sentimental kind and you don’t get personalized gifts, there is no shame in passing it along to the next. There is no shame in sticking the tenth mug you received this year in the back of your cabinet and never using it again, but why put yourself through the trouble when you can pass it on to someone new. Now, that mug is not your problem anymore, and you can go to sleep knowing that you made a charitable donation.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, but when the apron and oven mitts won’t work as that last minute gift for grandpa, don’t fret: you can always donate it. Thrift stores along with women’s shelters are places that will take your unwanted items and put them into the hands of someone who needs them. Not only are you decluttering your closet, but you are also carrying out an act of kindness.

Sometimes you’ll get gifts you cannot possibly give away, like a picture of you and your grandma with your names engraved on the frame. Instead of moping over your inability to dispose of such an object, cherish it and all of the thought that went into it. The holidays are a great time to show someone you care, and while searching for the strategies to avoid the post-holiday pileup, find some ways to appreciate and use the gifts you’re given.

You can find more information and ways to conserve in Architectural Digest’s guide to sustainability during the holidays.