On average, every American generates about 4.4 pounds of waste every day—that's nearly one ton per year! But during the holidays we all have way more trash and reusable items that don’t need to be trashed.
Recycling has never been more in style and I want to give you one of my favorite tips: reuse your holiday greeting cards. There are several ways to do it:
- The simplest thing to do is to cut the decorative front off of the card and turn it into a postcard for next year. Draw a vertical line down the center of the blank side and write your message on the left and put the address on the right side – don’t forget a postage stamp on the top right corner and you’re all set.
- Another idea is to turn your cards into gift tags. Cut out the prettiest pictures from the card (maybe even use fancy-edged scissors), punch a hole in the top, string a ribbon through the hole, and it’s ready for your next holiday package.
- You can also make unique gift bags using shopping bags from stores or even brown paper bags. Cut a nice graphic from your greeting cards and stick on the bag with a ribbon or bow (from last year’s gifts). This great look will make your gifts even more special!
Some more tips!
- Buy and use decorations that can be used more than once. Bags are more reusable than wrapping paper
- Make a gift bag by sewing together scraps of fabric, decorating an old pillowcase, or drawing a design on a paper bag.
- Avoid paper plates. Use washable plates, utensils, napkins and tablecloths for holiday parties.
- Don't waste food! Divide up holiday leftovers in reusable containers between guests so that the leftovers are eaten and not wasted.
- Use decorations that don't require electricity.
- Turn off holiday lights when no one is awake to enjoy them. Use a timer, if that helps.
- Purchase LED (light emitting diodes) Christmas lights. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and use very little energy.
- Do all of your shopping with reusable cloth bags, or return to a store with previously used paper and plastic bags.
- Look for gifts or treats with little or no packaging.
- Buy gifts that will last and can be used over and over again. Avoid disposable items.
- Look for rechargeable batteries for holiday gifts requiring battery power.
- Buy items made with recycled materials.
- Look for presents that are locally produced. In general, local products reduce energy costs because they don't need to be shipped long distances.
- As you head out to shop, carpool with family and friends.
- Buy a "live" holiday tree that can be planted in the yard in the spring.
- If you have a cut tree, place your "used" tree in the yard to provide cover for rabbits and birds during heavy snowfall, then cover it with strands of popcorn and cranberries, and place pine cone feeders on it to feed the birds.
- Turn your tree into mulch to help make the garden nicer this summer. (You must keep the tree clean and free of tinsel or decoration hooks.)
- Watch for tree collection days in your city or town and get your tree out in time for pick-up. Don't forget to remove all your ornaments and don't put the tree in a plastic bag.
- Put your old, unwanted dress clothes, shoes, and jewelry in a box and give it to a child as a "dress up" kit or for a costume. Or, donate gently used clothes to a charity organization for someone else to wear.
- You can avoid giving your friends a sugar overload by giving fun crayons, pencils, unique shaped erasers, sidewalk chalk, or other creative art supplies instead of candy.
- Give gifts like tickets to the movies, concerts, or your favorite sporting event. A gift certificate to a favorite store, or ice cream shop is a fun gift and produces less waste.
- Make a tasty treat and/or ornament with decorated cookies or candies.
- Give an environmental gift like a refillable pencil and lead, cloth bag for shopping or for carrying school books, a lunch box with reusable food containers, a rechargeable battery charger, or a can crusher and fun recycling bin.
- Buy living gifts. Try a house plant, seeds for spring gardening, potting soil, or even a coupon for your help with summer gardening.
- Wrap gifts in Sunday comics, old maps, or your own artwork drawn on the back of scrap paper.
- Make your own cards or wrapping paper by making paper from used paper.
- Make origami ornaments from used wrapping paper.
- Save your bows, ribbons, gift boxes and gift bags to use for wrapping future holiday gifts.
- Recycle your unwanted wrapping paper (most are recyclable except for the foil type).
- Wash and reuse party tableware.
Give a gift to the world! Reuse and recycle – this and every holiday season.
Alice Lockridge,
MS Phys Ed
Pro-Fit