REDUCING HOLIDAY WASTE
REDUCING HOLIDAY WASTE
It came with out ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!
Boxes, wrapping paper and ribbon can be reused from year to year. Another alternative to bleached and heavily dyed gift wrap is to use newspaper, which is recyclable, or cloth, which is reusable. (Source: Environmental Defense)
Shop online. Internet shopping saves energy, according to a study by the Center for Energy & Climate Solutions. Christmas shopping over the Internet for gifts that were going to be shipped anyway can avoid a considerable amount of transportation energy consumption and air pollution. Shopping on the Internet allows for energy savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing transportation of consumers, as well as shipping of products to the retail store. Transportation can be reduced to simply shipping the gift from the factory to the gift recipient. This kind of industry also cuts back on the amount of land developed for retail stores.
For Christmas parties, recycle beverage containers and avoid disposable utensils, plates, napkins or tablecloths. Leftovers can be donated to a shelter.
Buy recycled holiday cards.
When decorating the tree, minimize the size and amount of electric lights to save energy. Use decorations like strings of popcorn or dried cranberries, which can be fed to birds after the holidays. (Source: Environmental Defense) Note: On average, homes use 27 percent more lighting in December than in November, a discrepancy suggesting holiday lighting may be as great as 3-4 kilowatt hours a day. Depending on the kinds of Christmas lights used -- and whether a house is decorated outside as well as having a lighted Christmas tree -- decorative lighting loads could vary from 60 to 3,000 watts, according to the Florida Solar Energy Center.
Avoid using foam plastic packaging; newspaper and popcorn make great packing material.
Written by: Environmental Media Services
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