On an average day, a
typical person creates over 5 pounds of waste.
But from Thanksgiving to New Years Day,
household waste increases by more than 25%.
Added food waste, shopping bags, packaging,
wrapping paper, bows and ribbons—it all adds up
to an additional 1 million tons a week to
the nation's garbage piles. In fact, 38,000
miles of ribbon alone is thrown out each
year--enough to tie a bow around the Earth!
And it's not just
trash. The average American spends $800 on gifts
over the holiday season. Think about your time
and energy spent driving all around town looking
at so much stuff, and dealing with the hustle
and bustle of the mall. It's no wonder that so
many people get stressed out during the
holidays!
Maybe it’s time for
a new tradition – a No Waste Holiday Season –
Remember to
Buy
Local Monterey too!
1.Give
the gift of membership. Ideas: art museums,
Monterey Bay Aquarium, or a Sports Center gym
pass.
2.Purchase
tickets to a sporting event, concert, ride in a
hot air balloon, river rafting trip, bowling,
whaleboat tour, the ballet or theater.
3.Surprise
someone with a gift certificate to his or her
favorite restaurant.
4.Give
the gift of lessons. Ideas: musical instrument,
kayaking, Yoga, Pilate’s, dance or skiing.
5.Give
the gift of relaxation. Try a massage,
floatation tank or day spa.
6.Give
a garden! Seeds, gloves, tools, etc.
7.Make
a donation to a friend or relative’s favorite
charity.
8.If
you still want a gift to hand to someone, make
it yourself. Coupons for babysitting, a night
off dish duty, a foot massage, yard work, or
other services show you care enough to give of
your time, not just your money. Bake a tasty
treat.
9.Consider
wrapping gifts inside re-useable containers such
as cookie tins, flower pots or baskets.
Trying to avoid the "gift wrap trap?" Here are
some great ideas for gift wrapping alternatives.
Scarves, handkerchiefs or
bandannas.
Old posters and maps.
Pages from a child's coloring
book taped together (especially nice for
relatives who would enjoy the artwork).
Old sheet music.
Newspapers (foreign
newspapers are great).
Last year's holiday paper
(press with warm iron if wrinkled).
Wallpaper scraps.
Home-sewn cloth bags.
Fabric scraps.
Pictures or advertisements
from magazines and catalogs.
Sunday comic pages.
A present in a present (for
example, a hat in a matching scarf, jewelry
in a wooden box, cookies in a reusable tin
or cookie jar, barbecue grill utensils or
picnic supplies in a tablecloth, kitchen
gifts in towels or all-purpose cloths).
A plain box decorated with
leftover glitter, paint, markers, etc.
A cake pan, basket or a
wooden box.
Reusable decorative bags.
A “Hollywood box:”
individually wrap or decorate the top and
bottom of a box with a separate lid.
Encourage the recipient to reuse the box.
Purchase wrapping paper made
from recycled paper.
These items make an eye-catching final touch:
Bows saved from other gifts.
Reusable items, such as hair
bows, ornaments, shoe laces or toys.
Stencils or pictures from
holiday cards pasted onto a plain brown
paper bag or box.
Last year's holiday cards cut
up for gift tags.
Old neckties.
Spices, such as bundled
cinnamon sticks or cloves in mesh cloth.
Scrap fabric, lace, yarn,
rickrack and seam tape.
Scarves.
Combinations of beads and
buttons.
Dried or silk flowers.
10.
Consider buying an artificial
tree that can be reused every year. Decorate
evergreen bushes or pine trees outside a window
with removable, reusable decorations. Or
rent a
tree.
11.Sending a
package? Use popcorn instead of packing peanuts.
If you receive a gift with packing peanuts,
reuse them or donate them to a local mailing
store.
12.When
shopping for gifts: Look for items that are
locally made; not over packaged; are durable,
energy efficient, wind up or use rechargeable
batteries; are recycled (like antiques or used
bikes) and recyclable. Consider if the gift is
really needed and where it will go when it is
thrown away.
13.These
suggestions can really reduce the amount you
have to throw away after a party:
Buy baking goods and snack
food in bulk or large volumes.
Use reusable tableware; if
you don't have enough, ask to borrow
reusable tableware from friends or family.
Rent dishes, napkins, cups
and saucers, tablecloths and glasses instead
of using expensive disposables. If you use
disposables, make sure they are compostable
or recyclable.
Cut up last year's holiday
cards and use as place cards.
Use outdated calendars taped
together to make a unique New Year's
tablecloth.
Place easily identifiable
recycling containers at your celebration so
guests can recycle their pop cans, bottles,
etc.
Encourage hosts or hostesses
to reuse and recycle bows, wrapping paper,
cans, glass, etc.
Point out the ways your party
demonstrates waste reduction and recycling,
and SPREAD THE WORD.
13.Warming up
with hot cocoa or coffee? Most coffee
establishments offer a discount when you bring
in your own durable mug.
14.If you
participate in a winter sport, purchase used
sports equipment and look for sporting goods
that are made from recycled material. Examples
include hiking shoes with recycled rubber soles,
basketballs made with recycled rubber, and ski
jackets and sleeping bags made from recycled
plastic bottles.
15.Consider
making new cards from scrap paper or by
attaching new backs to the fronts of old
cards—this can be a craft project for family and
friends that helps everyone reduce paper waste
while saving money. Also, consider sending
electronic cards.
10.Bring your
own reusable cloth bag for carrying your
purchases, and try to buy items with minimal
packaging and/or made with recycled content. For
example, buy fleece jackets made from recycled
plastic bottles, sneakers made with recycled
rubber soles, or clothes made from recycled
cotton scraps.
11.Last but not
least, my favorite! Ride your bike, walk, or
take a bus to purchase gifts! You’ll fit into
your bathing suits come Springtime!
