The holiday season can be a tricky time to reduce waste. On average, households create 25 percent more waste during the holidays, but what can be done? Here are a few tips that can help you make a difference.
When wrapping presents, try using reusable or repurposed options such as cloth or newspapers. If you are using wrapping paper, look for options that don’t have any kind of coating (metallic, glitter, plastic) so it may be recycled in your blue bin as paper. Reusing your bows, bags, and ribbons can also help reduce waste while saving money.
When shopping for gifts, think about what people will use or need, rather than items that may go to waste, be returned, or be thrown away. Giving experiences or food can help to reduce waste and oftentimes can be more meaningful. When gift shopping, try to buy locally, avoid shopping online, remember your reusable bag, and choose items with less packaging. This can help to cut down on excess waste as well as carbon emissions from transporting those goods to stores or to your home.
Dispose of your Christmas tree properly this holiday season. The District Transfer Station in Middlebury offers free disposal of Christmas Trees throughout January. Additionally, some farmers collect trees to feed goats, and some towns have clubs that collect Christmas trees curbside after the holidays. The Middlebury Rotary Club will be picking up trees on January 4, and the Vergennes Lions Club will be picking up trees on January 4. Make sure to put out your Christmas tree the night before so you don't miss it!
Hosting people for the holidays can also generate lots of waste. When cooking, plan out your meals so that you prepare only what you will need. If you do end up with leftovers, give them to friends or family to take home, create new dishes, freeze the leftovers for later, or compost your food scraps. The holidays are also a great time to donate any canned or boxed nonperishables that meet donation guidelines to your local food shelter.
Using reusable dishware instead of single use items like paper plates, paper and plastic cups, plastic cutlery, and disposable napkins can also help you avoid unnecessary waste. Of course, there will still probably be some waste that comes out of any gathering, so be sure you’re disposing of it properly!
The Addison County Solid Waste Management District wishes you a safe, happy, and wasteless holiday season!