Along with the festivities, food and gifts comes an abundance of waste. Just think of the wrapping paper, packaging, trees, cards and disposables we discard.
Then there’s the electricity used for all the lights!
You can reduce holiday waste and energy consumption without reducing holiday spirit with a few simple changes.
Share the joy of time together; these kinds of gifts don’t create any waste at all: tickets to a concert, or a movie; a certificate for child care, or elder care; a home cooked meal delivered upon request; a day’s worth of yard work, or minor home repairs.
A plant, with proper care, is the gift that “keeps on giving.” If it does die, it can be recycled by composting it.
This year, instead of traditional holiday gift wrap try these unique wraps: holiday tea towels, tablecloths, elegant scarves, old tins, funny hats or socks, tackle box, tool chest, backpacks, cloth tote bag, decorative storage box.
For parties, use reusable napkins and tablecloths, washable plates, cups and flatware whenever possible. If you must use disposable party supplies, try to buy recycled paper napkins, plates, and towels.
Make your home festive without creating excessive waste by using reusable items or natural materials such as evergreens, which can be backyard composted later along with leaves. When giving or attending parties and diners, make sure cans and bottles are recycled.
A live Christmas tree is a great idea. It’s a renewable and recyclable resource. However, an artificial tree that is properly cared for, can last for 15 to 20 years. Whichever you choose, keep the spirit of the holiday in mind and follow the watering, handling and storing instructions for your tree.
If you put lights on your tree, use LED (light-emitting diode) lights. LED string lighting uses approximately 90 percent less energy than standard incandescent string lights.
LED lights are much safer to operate in close proximity to combustible materials such as Christmas trees. LED technology is such that the circuits produce very little heat. LED lights remain cool to the touch even after hours of operation. The use of LED holiday decorative lighting can greatly reduce the risk of accidental home fires during the holiday season.
Look for reused goods at thrift stores or at Church Bazaars. Make the ornaments. Have a family-fun-craft night where everyone makes ornaments for the tree, windows or to put outdoors.
Let nature be your supply store. Look around for pinecones, seashells, cattails, apples, or cranberries for making ornaments or wreaths.
Real Christmas trees can be recycled and made into mulch. In Cape May County, natural undecorated Christmas trees will be collected from the curbside, during January. Schedules vary; for collection date at your location call your municipal recycling coordinator.
As in the past, free Christmas tree mulch will be given to residents. This excellent quality mulch smells like Christmas! Beginning the first Saturday in February, bring your own container and pitch fork to:
• Landfill in Woodbine – weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. to noon.
• Transfer Station in Burleigh – weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Sat. 7:30 a.m. to noon
What to do with packing peanuts? Go on line to loosefillpackaging.com to locate a reuse or recycling center. Or, consider using these as filler in your garden containers. They’re lightweight and offer drainage at the bottom of containers.
Donate clothing, bedding, coats etc. to a church or organization, look for Amvets (American Veterans) drop-off collection boxes in shopping areas, or go on line at planetaid.org to locate drop-off boxes.
Go to freecycle.org. This is a network where members give away things they no longer need.
Lower Township – Who are these people that are obvious experts on trash cans and leaf pick-up? Maybe they don't have any trash to put out or leaves in their yard!!
