With more than 150 great gift ideas to choose from - including many affordable options - King County's Waste Free Holidays program could be a solution for holiday shopping budgets.

Now in its thirteenth 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, program manager 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 include cooking lessons, basketball tickets, and electric boat rentals.

Returning partners include nearly two dozen restaurants, one dozen museums, a ballet production, two swimming pools, more than 30 musical performances and nearly 20 massage therapists.

Purchases at the discounted price can be made until Dec. 31 by contacting the partners directly.

Details on all the offers and the participating partners are posted at www.wastefreeholidays.com.

For more information, visit www.wastefreeholidays.com, or contact Watson at 206-296-4481 or tom.watson@kingcounty.gov.