'Tis the season for zero waste

Now that the Thanksgiving dinner is over and done, your attention may be turning to all that is merry and bright.

Or you may be thinking more like Scrooge, and “Bah Humbug” your way into the holiday season.

There is no doubt, these days the holiday spirit can seem commercialized with an over- abundance of consumerism. Enough to make you wonder, “why?” and “what is this all for?” Even the stores seem to usher in the season earlier and earlier each year.

If the push of a shopping blitz brings on a migraine but you don’t want to cancel Christmas, then read on.

If the idea of all the excess wrapping, ribbons, plastic decorations and white elephant gifts ending up in the trash (then a landfill) fills you with dread, then read on.

Because ‘tis the season to have a zero-waste or low-waste Christmas.

What does Zero Waste Mean?

Zero waste is a concept focused on waste prevention, encouraging participants to reduce, reuse, recycle and even rethink the way we consume materials and goods. The goal is to send as little to a landfill as possible, even at the holidays. The only prerequisite is a little creativity spiced up with some mindfulness.

According to statistics published by Stanford University, Americans throw away 25% more trash during the holiday season than any other time of year. Other statistics show staggering consumption rates, such as 15 million Christmas trees in landfills, along with 38,000 miles of ribbon. Far from a merry and bright thought unless you would like to wrap the globe in a holiday ribbon.

Each holiday season, 125,000 tons of plastic packaging is thrown away, 277,000 miles of wrapping paper waste is discarded, and 2.6 billion holiday cards are sold, many of which will be tossed into a trash bin.

You can make the holiday memorable while reducing, reusing and recycling; Opt for a real tree, versus a fake one, as it is a renewable resource and can be recycled. Fake trees are made with plastics and end up in landfills after a few years, inevitably. Buying a real tree also supports a local tree farm, which in turn creates a sustainable local economy.

Gift Giving

Gift giving can be a fun, personal and thoughtful experience, or it can be stressful and full of over stimulating consumerism.

There are many wonderful ways to give a meaningful gift without creating stress or waste:

• Give an experience, such as a concert, play or gift certificate to a museum or day at the spa.

  Giving someone an experience is really gifting them twice.

  Once on the day they receive it and second on the day they experience it!

• Food items are generally a hit.

  A dinner out to a favorite restaurant, edible gifts such as breads, jams, cakes, herbed vinegars and olive oils all make enjoyable gifts to receive.

• Donate to a charity on behalf of your loved one.

  This can be a gift which keeps on giving.

• A homemade gift.
• Second-hand books or pre-loved clothing.
• Household items to help further reduce waste such as reusable mugs and thermos, glass straws, jars, or Tupperware.
• Plants or seeds.
• A slow cooker to encourage home cooked meals instead of take-out.
• A class to learn something new like a language or cooking.

  Perhaps it is a subject you can learn together, creating a lasting memory well beyond the holiday season.

• Shop local merchants, reducing fuel consumption while keeping the local community thriving.
• Buy from Fair Trade merchants.

  If you must purchase an item, consider where it came from and who made it.

  Many Fair-Trade merchants help support communities in under privileged parts of our world work towards a better life.

Before buying yet another tube of shiny wrapping paper, consider some of these options to personalize your gift wrap:

• Reuse last year’s gift bags and paper.

  If you saved last year’s wrapping, why not pull it out and re-purpose it this year.

  Remember to salvage any good wrapping from this year’s festivities to use next year, helping to keep it out of the landfill.

• Wrap up presents with newspaper or brown craft paper.

  Both of these are recyclable, and the funny pages makes for some entertaining packaging.

• Tie a parcel with ribbon or string.

  They are reusable as well as very decorative.

• Jazz up presents with a bit of nature.

  A sprig of holly or pinecones add color and flair, or try something as simple as a cinnamon stick or bunch of rosemary tucked under some string.

  They are pretty and smell good, too.

• These suggestions are just the beginning.

  There are many ways to ease the bustle of the season while helping improve our environment.

• This holiday season may you find peace in your days, happiness with those closest to you and may your holidays be mindful and bright.