It should be no surprise to anyone that more waste is generated during the holidays than at any other time of the year.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an additional one million tons of waste is generated in the U.S. from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. That’s an increase of 25% — from 4 million tons to five million.
Furthermore, approximately 50% of gifts purchased for Christmas end up in a landfill within the next 12 months.
[Imagine Recycla shaking her head in disgust.]
What can YOU do?
Here are some ideas for cutting back your trash output now and into the new year:
- It should be obvious, but using cloth shopping bags when you shop is a major first step.
- Next, think carefully about what you give. Consider giving “experience gifts” or to charity instead of buying more stuff.
- Re-think how you wrap gifts and be savvy about recycling all you can afterward.
- Look around your home and think about your trash in general. Are you recycling all you can? Are you cutting back on the materials you consume? Are you composting your kitchen waste?
- Recycle your Christmas tree after you take it down. If your town doesn’t offer that option, consider tossing it in an unused corner of your yard, where it can be a wildlife habitat while it decomposes.
These are just a few idea; check out this list at the E.P.A.’s website.
Tell the Eco Women: What are you doing to cut back on your waste this year?
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The thing that makes me really gnash my teeth is the PACKAGING–especially for toys. Lightbulbs are packed in a thin sleeve of cardboard, but heavy-duty Fisher Price is bundled and twisted and layered into boxes as though it were made of fragile glass.
My family isn’t convinced yet, but I’ve given up commercial wrapping paper. I’ve done some creative and lovely work using plain white/ brown packaging materials, pictures from old cards, and reusable ribbons. My latest favorite wrappers? Wine bags from the liquor store. They’re such a neat shape.