From Christmas trees, wrapping paper and putting up decorations, this guide will help you to reduce your environmental impact. Saving energy and resources will protect the environment both now and for the future. Americans are wasteful, and this time of year it is even truer.
Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, Americans throw away 25% more trash.
If every American family wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.
35% of Americans have an unused Christmas present collecting dust in their closet.
Here are some ways you can reduce waste this season.
Trees
- Choose the most energy efficient holiday tree and dispose of it at a chipping facility.
- Use an artificial tree that can be reused every holiday season. When decorating your tree, use few or no lights, decorate with more energy efficient LED strings, or use a timer for your lights to save electricity.
Cards
- Make your own cards or choose cards made of recycled paper.
- Send out electronic cards.
Gifts
- Save money and resources by making your own gifts.
- Use fewer resources by shopping online.
- If you do go out to stores, take your own bags on shopping trips, and combine several trips into one.
- Give gifts that are durable and energy-efficient.
- Purchase gifts locally made or grown.
Food
- Buy snacks and beverages in bulk to avoid extra packaging.
- Serve food with washable utensils, plates, and glasses, rather than disposable items.
By just making a few modest changes to your holiday ritual, you can save money and limit waste. We may not think about how much we are actually wasting during a regular day, but it piles up. Start today and try to keep in mind the easy ways it is to stay in the holiday spirit and keep a greener environment.
http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/16/news/economy/holiday_trash/index.htm