Oh, the holiday waste is frightful—but recycling is delightful!
The winter months are a time to relax and celebrate with the people who matter most—including Land Phil! This year, the best gift you can give him is nothing at all. Here are some tips on how to make the holidays a little greener.
Holiday Lights
As you begin to trim the tree and dig old lights out of storage, be mindful of how you discard broken cords, wires, and lights. They may be recyclable, but not in your curbside bin, as they can tangle and damage sorting equipment. Lights may be recycled at designated locations.
Recycling Tip: Bring your holiday lights to the Eastridge PTO Recycle Holiday Lights Drive at your nearest Fire Station or to Sadoff Iron & Metal Company for proper disposal.
Decor
The cutest decor is stuff that won’t end up with Land Phil. Go foraging for fallen evergreen branches and pine cones to create wreaths, ornaments, and other decorations! Once the holidays are over, return them to the Earth.
Food
When it comes time to share seasonal meals with your family, limit your food purchases to only what you will actually eat. Save leftovers for later or share extra food with neighbors and friends.
Packages
With lots of packages arriving at the door, remember to break down any cardboard boxes before recycling. Bubble wrap, Styrofoam™, and packing peanuts aren’t accepted in curbside recycling—save these items for reuse or discard them in your trash.
Wrapping Paper
When choosing single-use wrapping supplies, look for wrapping paper or bags that aren't metallic or shiny. Uncoated paper can be recycled, and gift bags can be reused! Even better, wrap your gifts in alternative materials like brown paper grocery bags, magazines, newspapers, paper maps, sheet music, scarves or bandanas, or reusable bags. You can also package gifts in cookie tins. These materials are easy to reuse or recycle and add a special homemade touch to your gift!
A reminder: ribbons and bows don't belong in your recycling bins. They’re not recyclable and they tangle in the machines that sort your recyclable materials.
Sustainable Gifts
As you shop for your loved ones this season, think about some ways to be environmentally conscious. For starters, shop local or secondhand to minimize emissions. Consumable gifts like baked goods, soaps, or candles can help reduce waste. Talk with loved ones about experiences or gift cards they'd enjoy to help reduce unnecessary consumption.
Returns
While returning unwanted gifts may seem like a way to keep items out of the landfill, returns can have environmental costs. Less than half of returned items are repackaged and resold. Some end up in thrift and discount stores, but the rest are thrown away—close to five billion pounds in the United States.
Try to opt for consumable, reusable, or experiential gifts this year to keep returns at a minimum. Consider regifting or donating any items that you won’t use so they can get a second life.
