Twas the
weekafter Christmas,
and all through the place,
not a package unopened,
in the garbage - no space!!
EZ Navigator - Reduce
Main >>> Holiday Shopping Guide
After the holiday
season is through, many folks are left with mounds upong mounds
of leftovers. And I don't mean anything that belongs in the 'fridge.
When we buy presents for the holidays, we are often left with the
packaging materials, wrapping paper, cards, envelopes, tags, and
bows that decorate our gifts to our friends and families. All of
this material needs to go somewhere, and it might not all fit in
the trash can at once.
This
holiday season, let the CCSWA help you to create less holiday waste.
Follow the simple guideliness below to holiday shopping, recycling,
and disposal.
When
wrapping gifts, look for recycled wrapping papers.
Avoid
using bubble-wrap or other plastic "fillers" in packages
when shipping to someone. Stuff boxes with newspaper instead.
Reuse an old box to ship or wrap
items. Ask the sales person at the store if they have any extra
boxes for wrapping gifts. A shirt box fits much more than just a
shirt!
Wrap things together. Fill a box
or basket with items and decorate with cellophane and ribbon. This
saves on wrapping paper waste, saves time, and if you're not very
good at wrapping anyway, this is a GREAT OPTION!!
BUY RECYCLED! If you recycle all
year 'round, why not get a return on all of your work? Look for
items that have recycled content. By buying recycled, you keep the
chain going. Manufacturers who can not sell their recycled-content
items will stop making them, forcing all of our great recyclers
to throw everything in the trash!
Look for gifts that do not come
with alot of packaging, or no packaging at all.
Gift Certificates for services instead
of merchandise are an excellent gift idea.
Reuse for a Great Cause
Purchase used, but in good condition
items from local thrift stores. Goodwill Industries, the Salvation
Army, and St. Vincent de Paul sell used items to benefit great causes.
Buy cards from St. Jude's Ranch
for Children! The children use donated cards to make new cards for
sale to benefit children with special needs. To learn more about
St. Jude's Ranch for Children, purchase cards, or information on
donations, please visit www.stjudesranch.org.
(Please note, St. Jude's is no longer accepting cards as donations.)
Decorate Smarter
Use energy-efficient lights for
decorating. Instead of being the "brightest on the block",
try being the most artistic and creative. Remember, anyone can throw
up strands of lights, it takes a bit of planning and talent to make
it look good.
Don't let the lights on all night!
Turn them on after dark, and turn them off before you go to bed.
Use home-made ornaments instead
of purchasing new ones. If you have kids at home, or are a kid at
heart, making ornaments from things around the house can be a great
activity for a snowy afternoon! Click
here to learn how to make recycled paper ornaments!!
Artificial trees last for a long
time and look very realistic nowadays. Using an artificial tree
saves a tree from being cut and disposed of after the holidays have
ended.
If you insist on buying a live tree,
buy a "balled" tree - one that has the roots bundled in
burlap. You can place these in a large tub and replant them after
the winter has ended. You'll not only be enjoying the scent and
beauty of a live tree, but helping to plant a tree and create habitat
for animals in the future!
Recycle, and Plan to Recycle
Plan to use recyclable materials
this holiday, and recycle them when you are done. If you have to
package something, use newspaper and make sure it gets recycled
later on.
With
a little preparation, you can shop smarter this holiday season. Always
consider the environmental impact of what you buy.
