Keeping Christmas out of the landfill, how to reduce waste at the holidays
Gift giving and sitting down for a good homemade meal around the holidays is a ritual enjoyed by many different religions and regions.
In the United States, the holiday season also comes with some costs, including as much as 25% increases in waste going to landfills, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Here are some of the biggest culprits of the increased waste and tips to work around them from Gaston County’s Recycling Coordinator Nan Kirlin.
The culprits
Some of the most commonly trashed holiday items include the basics; plastic cutlery, certain wrapping papers, food waste, trees, and items that are no longer in style.
Each culprit has a small workaround that could help cut back what goes to the landfill.
Plastic cutlery
When it comes to plastic dinnerware, Kirlin can understand it may be difficult to provide drinking glasses, dinner plates or bowls to dozens of guests.
“I always tell people if you’re gathering to eat just use real silverware,” Kirlin said.
The small act of refraining from buying plastic forks and spoons goes farther than one might think.
Wrapping paper
According to Kirlin, plain wrapping paper is actually not a huge problem when it comes to creating waste.
Plain wrapping paper can be recycled, so, when it comes time to clean up after presents, just rip off the tape and toss it in your mixed paper bin.
Wrapping paper with glitter or foil cannot be recycled.
Food waste
Large amounts of food waste can be common when cooking for a group of people.
According to the EAP, on average, at least a quarter of our waste is food.
Some options to reduce this area of waste include freezing uneaten food, learning to store food so it lasts longer, and more.
While not everyone has the means or ability to be able to start a compost, this can also be a great option to reduce waste in landfills.
If you do live in a place where you can comfortably compost, information about composting is available online.
According to Kirlin, Gaston County’s waste management department has informational resources available to help interested residents get started.
Trees
“I am a big live tree fan,” Kirlin said.
At the end of the holiday season, live christmas trees that find their way to the landfill get recycled.
Trees are turned into mulch and have the chance to return to someone’s garden, according to Kirlin.
Buying a real tree each year is a time commitment, and not everyone can work the cost into their budget.
If you prefer artificial trees for any reason, Kirlin says, “the artificial tree has value if people keep it long enough.”
Make your artificial tree a family staple for years to come, and you will help reduce the use of plastic.
Trending items
Different trends present themselves each year.
In many cases, this can lead to buyers reaching for the latest style of decoration even when they already have decorations at home.
“I encourage people to be judicious with their purchases,” Kirlin said. “Is it something you will actually use again?”
Another option if you’ve had the same decorations for years, and just need something new, is to try shopping used items.
Bonus round: Gift giving
When it comes to giving your loved ones a gift, the excitement of finding the perfect item is commonplace.
Kirlin encourages shoppers to consider homemade gifts or even food gifts this year.
“How do you go wrong with a food gift?” Kirlin asked. “You eat it, and there’s no waste.”
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Keeping Christmas out of the landfill
