Household waste in the U.S. increases by more than 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day
VANCOUVER — As holiday festivities begin, Clark County Solid Waste and Environmental Outreach is encouraging people to take steps to reduce their holiday waste.
![Household waste in the U.S. increases by more than 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, sending an additional 1 million tons of trash per week to landfills. But by taking a few simple steps to reduce, reuse and recycle, the holiday season can be a little greener. Photo courtesy of clarkgreenneighbors.org](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Clark-County-Today-holiday-waste-reduction-article.jpg)
Household waste in the U.S. increases by more than 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, sending an additional 1 million tons of trash per week to landfills. But by taking a few simple steps to reduce, reuse and recycle, the holiday season can be a little greener.
Before the holiday parties and gift-giving begins:
- Plan your holiday meals to avoid over-buying food. Consider using the “Guest-imator,” a dinner party calculator, to estimate how much food you need to keep guests happy and full. Send guests home with leftovers in reusable containers, and compost your food scraps.
- 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.
- 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.
- Think durable when selecting gifts. The longer an item lasts, the less often it will need to be replaced.
- Wrap gifts in reusable bags, old maps, newspaper or leftover pieces of fabric, rather than purchasing wrapping paper.
- Skip the disposables when hosting gatherings. Single-use plates, cups, napkins and silverware end up in the landfill.
- Make ornaments from natural, edible items and set them out for the winter wildlife after the tree comes down. A string of popcorn and cranberries makes a perfect gift for the birds.
- Take reusable bags on your shopping trips.
After the holiday gatherings:
- Save gift bags, tissue paper, bows and ribbons to reuse next year. Recycle wrapping paper (not foil-covered paper) that cannot be reused.
- Take inventory of things you no longer use and donate old toys and clothing to thrift stores.
- Consider recycling old electronic gadgets, string lights that no longer work and block foam. Drop-off locations can be found at RecyclingDoneRight.com. Donate unwanted electronics and string lights that still work.
- Use rechargeable batteries to power new toys.
- For more holiday waste-reduction tips, visit the Clark County Green Neighbors website.
Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.