Make the holiday season greener by reducing, reusing and recycling
By taking a few simple steps to reduce, reuse and recycle, area residents can make the holiday season a little greener without losing any holiday cheer.
By Clark County Today · December 4, 2018
By taking a few simple steps to reduce, reuse and recycle, area residents can make the holiday season a little greener without losing any holiday cheer.
By taking a few simple steps to reduce, reuse and recycle, you can make the holiday season a little greener without losing any holiday cheer
VANCOUVER — American household waste increases by more than 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, contributing an additional 1 million tons per week to landfills.But by taking a few simple steps to reduce, reuse and recycle, you can make the holiday season a little greener without losing any holiday cheer.Before the holiday parties and gift-giving begins:
Send holiday e-cards rather than mailing paper cards. Or make sure the paper cards you buy have recycled content and are recyclable. Recycle holiday cards you receive.
Give experiences, time or talent as gifts. Consider gift cards to restaurants or tickets to a sporting event. Take someone to a play or teach them how to play an instrument. Make a charitable donation in the recipient’s name or give a museum membership.
Give home-baked goodies in reusable containers, such as holiday tins or jars.
Take reusable bags on your shopping trips.
Reuse holiday decorations or trade decor with a friend. Shop at thrift stores for new-to-you decorations.
Wrap gifts in reusable bags or use old maps, fabric scraps or newspaper rather than purchasing wrapping paper.
Plan your holiday meals to avoid over-buying food. Send guests home with leftovers in reusable containers, and compost your food scraps.
After the holiday gatherings:
Save gift bags, tissue paper, bows and ribbons to reuse next year. Recycle wrapping paper (not foil-covered paper) and tissue paper that cannot be reused.
Take inventory of things you no longer use and donate old toys and clothing to thrift stores.
E-cycle your old electronic devices. Searchwww.recyclingA-Z.com for electronic recycling drop-off locations.
Take block foam to a drop-off site for recycling. Searchwww.recyclingA-Z.com for locations.
Use rechargeable batteries to power new toys. They greatly reduce the number of batteries thrown into the landfill. Searchwww.recyclingA-Z.com for household battery disposal options.
For more holiday waste-reduction tips, visit theClark County Green Neighbors website.“Waste-reduction efforts don’t need to end with the holiday season,” said Sally Fisher, program coordinator with Clark County Public Health. “Make your New Year’s resolution to practice the three Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle – every day.”
