Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 12/4/2019
With the holidays upon us, so is overeating, overspending, and overproducing. According to the National Environmental Education Foundation, Americans produce 25 percent more trash than usual between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Here are some tips to spend less and waste less during this holiday season.
•Gifts: Give memories not things. During the holidays, people want to spend time with their family and friends. Giving gifts like movie tickets, trips, or a day to a spa lets people do things together and won’t leave you with boxes and parts to put together. Give an experience. Have you ever wanted to learn how to become a beekeeper, or learn to play guitar? Giving a new experience to your loved ones is a great way to give them a new skill that they’ve always wanted to try but just didn’t take the opportunity. Give sustainability. Before you get Grandma that single serve coffee machine, think about multi use gifts. A set of metal straws, or a funny coffee travel cup. If you buy something electronic, make sure you include rechargeable batteries.
•Wrapping: Although paper is recyclable, certain wrapping papers are not. Anything with metallic writing, glitter, or a plastic coating cannot be recycled. Neither can bows or ribbon. Opt for more natural wrapping paper or twine. Gifts bags are also great to give because they can be reused.
•Holiday Cards: Excited to peek in your mailbox this month? 1.6 billion holiday cards are given each year, however any cards with foil, felt cut outs, glitter, or ribbons are not recyclable. Remember to take off the extras and recycle the card with your paper. Give cards that are made without the bows, and glitter or even better, send an e-card or a nice phone call to your loved ones.
•Decorations: Avoid plastic, cheap decorations and invest in good quality ones. Holiday lights with LED bulbs will last years compared to the old incandescent bulbs. Timeless classics from your youth like that ceramic lighted Christmas tree are just waiting for you at a second hand store. Or, look to nature. Some of the most beautiful trimmings are tree branches, popcorn and cranberries strung around the fireplace. Real Christmas trees are also a sustainable option because you’ll be supporting your local Christmas tree farm and they’ll be able to plant more carbon-eating trees in turn. Many communities will collect your tree on the street corners and recycle them.
So this holiday season, try to limit wasteful spending and wastefulness in general. After all, holidays are for sustaining our traditions with our friends and family.