BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s can be the most wasteful time of the year, Adrienne Fors said, but with a little planning and extra work, residents can give Mother Nature a valuable holiday gift.
“We can save money and time and reduce our impact on the environment by being diligent about recycling and looking for more creative, sustainable gift options,” said Fors, senior community relations specialist for Waste Management. “Whether it’s buying products made from organic or recycled content, or giving the gift of time to a favorite charity, if each of us tried to reduce the amount of waste we create, we would see a significant positive impact during the holiday season.”
The holiday season is full tilt in the Lehigh Valley, with holiday tree and menorah lightings, ice skating at SteelStacks, winter bazaars and even a visit from the Hallmark Channel, which recently filmed a segment at Bethlehem’s Christkindlmarkt. However, amid the joy and festivities, environmental advocates are urging residents to keep sustainability in mind during what can be one of the highest waste creation times of the year.
When holiday material is discarded, it can head to landfills where — far from making things merry and bright — it undergoes bacterial decomposition, producing a mixture of predominantly greenhouse gasses including methane, carbon dioxide and water vapor.The National Environmental Education Foundation
“When holiday material is discarded, it can head to landfills where — far from making things merry and bright — it undergoes bacterial decomposition, producing a mixture of predominantly greenhouse gasses including methane, carbon dioxide and water vapor,” according to the National Environmental Education Foundation. “The methane in particular makes landfill gas stand out — landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States.”
Each American, on average, generates about 5 pounds of waste a day or close to one ton annually, Fors said.
“According to the [Environmental Protection Agency], packaging from gifts, food waste from large holiday meals, discarded decorations and many of the items that will be replaced by gifts really add up,” she said. “It’s said that the extra waste produced between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day in the United States can increase by 25%.”
Recycling correctly — and avoiding “wish-cycling,” hoping or wishing something is recyclable without confirming — is the first step.
For example, holiday lights or plastic shopping bags, when added to single-stream recycling bins, can become “tanglers” that cause a recycling center’s whole sorting system to grind to a halt. And, lithium batteries are increasingly causing fires in the waste and recycling stream.
“WM requests that the community please remove lithium batteries from toys, tools, electronics, etcetera, and seek a recycling outlet before placing these items in curbside bins or in their container for refuse pickup,” Fors said. “We urge the community to check their local government for recycling options.”
Fresh Christmas trees, free of decorations, can also be recycled.
Below, find more ideas to make the holiday season more sustainable, courtesy of Fors:
- Consider giving no-waste gifts, such as: music or sports lessons, memberships to a gym, concert series or museum, favors like babysitting or tickets to a sporting event or concert. Find out the gift recipient’s favorite charity and make a donation in his or her honor or commit to volunteering time with that organization.
- There are many products made from recycled or organic content that make great gifts — look for bags or fleece clothing made from recycled plastic bottles or organic cotton T-shirts and apparel. Many online and catalog retailers sell these products. Whatever you give, be sure to buy durable, reusable products that will last a long time.
- Bake cookies or other goodies for your loved ones and package them in reusable and/or recyclable containers as gifts.
- Give potted plants, flowers or trees that the recipient can plant in the garden or yard – not only will it be a beautiful reminder of the holidays throughout the year, it will also provide benefits to the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the air.
- Millions of paper and plastic shopping bags end up in landfills every year. Reduce the number of bags thrown out by using reusable cloth bags while shopping for gifts and groceries and tell store clerks when you don't need a bag.
- When wrapping gifts, consider reduced or no-waste options. Put a reusable bow on the gift; place the gift in a reusable bag such as a backpack or purse; or package small, themed gifts in a larger item — such as plates or tableware in placemats or a tablecloth or kitchen utensils in an apron or decorative dish towel. Recycle wrapping paper, either with your newsprint or through reuse on smaller gifts.
- Make your own wrapping paper by using old maps, posters, leftover wallpaper or pages from the newspaper or magazines. Recycled-content wrapping paper is also available. Save gift bags and bows to use again and be sure to recycle the newspapers or brown paper shopping bags after the gift is opened or use it for padding when shipping gifts.
- If you are attending a party or dinner and are bringing a dish for the meal or an edible gift for the host, be sure to package it in a reusable container. If the item is a gift, place it on a decorative holiday plate, in a washable kitchen container, or wrap it with a holiday towel.
- Use email for your holiday greetings — it’s a great way to share photos and keep in touch more frequently and saves paper and postage. If you send cards, make them with paper that can be recycled.
- When entertaining, use washable utensils, plates, glasses, napkins and table coverings. Decorate with potted plants (that your guests may take home and plant) or candles. Be sure to have containers available where your guests can put recyclable cans and bottles. If you have leftover food, send it home with your guests in reusable containers or donate it to a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen.
More recycling tips can be found at www.wm.com/recycleright.
