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Gift giving is big this time of year.
This may sound crazy, but according to Stanford University, Recycling, Americans throw away 25% more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday period than any other time of year. The extra waste amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, or about 1 million extra tons per week!
For anyone concerned about reducing waste – the holidays are a great time to reduce, recycle, reuse and get creative!
There are many ways to do this. As we gather with family and friends, the presents we give can say a great deal about our concern for the planet.
Think in terms of gifts of experience:
- Theater, event or movie tickets,
- A gift certificate to a favorite restaurant,
- A day at a spa,
- Seeds for the spring garden.
Homemade gifts are always a fun way to show your appreciation. Reusable tins or eco-friendly packaging filled with home baked cookies, cakes or candied nuts make a great gift.
Shop for gifts at consignment shops. Think used, secondhand, antique or vintage from shops or flea markets. You’ll be amazed at the lovely items people decide to recycle for use by others. That can include reusing wrapping paper or finding alternatives to fancy wrapping like using the funny papers or a plain paper bag, with a simple ribbon and a sprig of herb from your garden.
Get a potted, living tree that can used inside during the holiday and will grace your garden during the coming year.
Give the gift of charity. For the person who has everything, or more than enough, giving a donation to a deserving nonprofit in honor of that person is a great way to share the wealth and spread holiday cheer.
Holidays are meant for celebrations.
Celebrations may be based on long-held traditions, and with blended families, we may be introduced to new traditions. Many families know that creating their own new traditions is also important. Changing habits isn’t easy, but when we make a conscious effort to keep our planet in mind as we move through this holiday season, we make the future brighter for all of us.
When it comes to cleaning up after the celebrations are over, consider eco-friendly, organic, green cleaning products. Contact us today for ideas!
