Though just 5 percent of the world鈥檚 population, the U.S. creates half of the globe鈥檚 solid waste.听Americans generate an average of 25 percent more waste鈥攐r听1 million additional tons per week鈥攂etween Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Here are 10 ideas courtesy of ,听to incorporate into your work and home lives听to help reduce waste while you eat, drink and make merry this holiday season.听
- Use LED holiday lights.听Holiday lights in the U.S. use more than 2.2 million mega-watt hours (MWh)听of electricity, enough to power 173,000 homes for a year. LED lights, however, use 80 percent less energy, are more durable and can last up to 10 times longer than traditional lights.
- Bring your own bags shopping.听Instead of using retailers' bags at checkout, bring听your own. Declining the extra tissue paper, ribbons and stickers that are so often included in holiday purchases will also help decrease waste.
- Switch to rechargeable batteries. Batteries are not recyclable and are often thrown away after just one use. Replacing alkaline batteries with rechargeable ones can really help the environment, especially during the holidays when about 40 percent of battery sales occur in the U.S.
- Make your gatherings zero-waste.听Skip the disposable dishware in favor of reusable dishes听and utensils, and听decorate the table with seasonal fruits and veggies to cut back on waste.
- Stop junk mail.听One quick tip is to request to be removed from mailing lists as soon as you receive an unwanted piece of mail.
- Wrap it and听pack it eco-style.听 Instead of using traditional wrapping paper, which is difficult to recycle due to its high-clay, low-paper content,听get creative with recyclable alternatives like comics, posters, maps, blueprints, calendars, fabric or cloth gift bags.
- Go digital. Approximately 1.5 billion holiday cards are sent in the U.S.,听which requires 300,000 new trees to be harvested each year. Consider using holiday e-cards this year and give the trees a break. If you must send holiday greetings via snail mail, be sure to choose听recycled and/or recyclable cards.
- Try an alternative Christmas听tree.听Instead of cutting down a tree, decorate a favorite houseplant or buy an artificial tree that can be reused year after year. If you do opt for a traditional tree, you can have it turned to mulch at the end of the season.听
- Plan听for green dining. Selecting a menu of听seasonal, local food听is a great way to make your holiday meals eco-friendly. Prevent food waste by sending leftovers home with guests in reusable containers or get creative with holiday-leftover recipes.
- 颁丑辞辞蝉别听别肠辞-诲别肠辞. 38,000 miles of ribbon alone is thrown out annually鈥攅nough to tie a bow around the Earth! When planning a party, avoid decorations designed for one-time use. Try to decorate听with what you have and听choose locally-grown flowers, food or potted plants for centerpieces.
Instead of contributing to the influx of holiday consumption, it听is also important to stay eco-conscious when giving gifts. Here are a few听suggestions for meaningful听gifts that are easy on the planet and don't break the bank.
- #GiveHeifer. With ,听you can donate an animal to a family in need, fund a community project or support sustainable farming for families around the world. A flock of chicks is only $20!
- Give a Kiva Card. gives loved ones the chance to听help change a life, by lending as little as $25 to a听borrower of his or her choice.听Once the borrower repays the loan, the lender听can use it to fund new loans鈥攖he gift that keeps on giving!
- Give a service or听experience. More than three听in four听Americans wish the holidays were less materialistic.听Share a talent or give a service in lieu of a material gift, or give the gift of experiences and activities.
For more information on having a waste-free holiday season, see Eco-Cycle's 听and
