Questions & Answers (and Tips) for the Holidays
Submitted by Jacqui Wakefield, MNBP Waste Management and Diversion Group
The holiday season is coming quickly. It is a busy time of year, and for many of us, not a time when we think of ways to minimize waste.
Unfortunately, during this time of year, we produce a lot of waste and recycling – and it is not just gift wrap or ribbons.
So, what can we do – and still fully enjoy this wonderful season?
Q: What about cards and presents?
A: REDUCE – Give less stuff and consider “more experience-based” gifts which are often more memorable — tickets to a game, movie or another event OR a special meal or hike together. Thoughtful gift certificates are often appreciated more than “stuff”. Perhaps a donation to a charity would spread joy even further.
REUSE – If you send greeting cards, think about making your own – perhaps with pictures cut out and borrowed from cards you have received. Use recyclable materials (no glitter or glossy photos). Some people add a personal note to a card and return it to the sender – fun and a great example of reusing!
Make your gift giving more interesting and fun! When you can, give local or homemade gifts. They often come in less packaging. Use a new scarf or dish towel as both a wrapping and a part of the gift — two presents in one package! For babies or toddlers, bundle a small toy in a blanket. Wrap gifts in festive holiday fabric, cloth bags or dish towels, which can simply be washed and reused. Gifts “wrapped” in baskets, bags, boxes, tins or jars often can be reused.
When only wrapping paper will do, try to find paper that is made with recycled materials and will also be recyclable — like sturdy paper grocery bags. These also could make great canvasses for stencils, paints, crayons — and kids can do the decorating! Or perhaps reuse an old issue of the Press as wrapping (maybe a particularly interesting Publisher’s rant…)!
Add a pine cone or sprig from your tree to give your gift wrap some rustic flair while being eco-friendly. Leftover yarn or colourful shoelaces work well as “ribbons”.
When you’re done unpacking or unwrapping your gifts, try to save some of the wrap/bags to reuse when you give a gift later.
RECYCLE – Put cardboard and boxboard in your recycling bin, along with paper cards and envelopes.
Metallic, glitter, and cellophane are not recyclable. Try to eliminate the use of shiny wrapping paper, plastic bows, and bubble wrap – none of these are recyclable. When mailing gifts, use fabrics rather than bubble wrap or styrofoam peanuts.
Q: What about the Christmas tree?
A: Consider decorating the tree with homemade or natural ornaments. Holiday light strings and tinsel often can be reused from year-to-year. However, they belong on the “naughty” list when it comes to recycling. When they are worn out or damaged, throw them into your waste bin.
Reuse as much of the tree as possible after the holidays. Try standing the tree in a corner of your yard as a resting spot for birds or protection for wildlife over the winter, or let the tree decompose out of sight in your yard. Tree trunks can be dried and used for firewood or split for kindling. My brother is a wood worker, and he has made lovely candlesticks and bowls from the trunks. Use branches as mulch under acid-loving bushes and shrubs.
Q: What about holiday dinners or parties?
A: When shopping, make a list and remember to bring enough of your own bags. Afterwards, compost your kitchen food scraps – fruit and vegetable wastes only — not meat or grease. If you have a home composter, you can add materials throughout the winter and they will start to breakdown as soon as the warmer days arrive.
Make it easy for guests to recycle their glass bottles and aluminum cans by putting the recycling bin next to the waste can.
If leftovers are likely, encourage guests to bring their own containers to “take home” some good eats.
Other Holiday Tips
• Recycle your old gadgets. Get a shiny new computer or phone this holiday season? Don’t toss out your old model – recycle it responsibly at a store or at a landfill site.
• Rinse your recyclables. Before you toss your empty aluminum pie plate or eggnog carton into the blue box, be sure to give it a good rinse.
• Buy high quality goods. They may cost more, but they last longer and ultimately reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfills.
• Buy electronics or small appliances with an “Energy Star” label, which signifies that they save energy.
• Buy rechargeable batteries to go with new electronic toys.
• Soft lighting creates a warm cozy feel, and new LED bulbs come in a range of warm tones and are very energy efficient.
Here are some other common items that unfortunately cannot be recycled:
– Clementine/Citrus boxes – the wood is not recyclable, but it can be used as kindling in a woodstove or fireplace.
-Ribbon and bows – reuse them as much as possible.
-Artificial Trees
-Plastic or foil decorations
-Soiled paper plates, napkins and paper towels
To preserve the spirit of the season, try to give in an environmentally thoughtful way. Less stuff means less waste and a healthier environment for everyone. What gift could be better?
