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Recycled
Gifts, Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas Can Cut Down on Holiday Waste
State provides easy tips on how to be green and environmentally friendly
this holiday season
SAN
FRANCISCO — Between the stuffing of the turkey and ringing in
the New Year, like the rest of the nation, California generates
an enormous amount of waste. But the California Integrated Waste Management
Board
has some holiday waste management tips that even the Grinch can’t
steal away.
It is estimated that between Thanksgiving and the New Year an
extra million tons of waste are generated nationwide each week. In
fact, 38,000 miles of ribbon alone is thrown out each year—enough
to tie a bow around the Earth!
“We can all get a little carried away with the season’s
festivities,” said
Board Chair Margo Reid Brown. “In the spirit of giving, the Waste
Board is happy to offer some helpful tips that we can all take
to heart.”
1. Buy gifts made from recycled products
When it comes to gifts, the Board suggests giving the ones that “Yule” remember.
Some of the most unique and interesting gift items can be found online
at outlets like RecycleStore. The RecycleStore Website lists items
from a host of imaginative manufacturers that specialize in making
recycled-content products for shoppers looking to give family and friends
a holiday gift to cherish for Christmases to come. Products from the
RecycleStore run the gamut from stunning home furniture (such as teak
four-door armoires made from demolished homes in Java) by Wooden Duck
of Berkeley and ash herringbone polo shirts woven 100 percent from
recycled cotton fiber by Eco-Bags Products, Inc. of Solana Beach to
recycled cardboard and wax fireplace logs by the E-Z Lite Log Company
in Yreka and men’s and women’s Lazy Boy flip flops made
100 percent from recycled tires by Splaff Flops of San Diego. If you
think recycled goods make second-class gifts, the RecycleStore will
make buyers check their shopping lists twice.
According to the board, some of the most memorable gifts can
have the least environmental impact, with a little forethought. Gift
certificates, tickets to sporting and entertainment events, and home
made items all have special meanings to those on the receiving end.
Given the number of Christmas gifts sure to run on batteries
this season, the board reminds buyers that rechargeable power sources
are easier on the environment and can be thrifty in the long run. More
information about the seasonal merits of using rechargeable batteries
can be found at http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WPW/Power/RechBattInfo.htm.
2. Be creative when wrapping gifts
When it comes to wrapping that special holiday season gift, the
Board offers waste-not tips that can rival the gifts themselves in
thought and ingenuity. Instead of purchasing reams of expensive wrapping
paper, why not substitute reusable boxes, brightly colored canvas tote
bags, colorful pillow cases or holiday fabric for toys and similar
items, dish towels for kitchen ware, oven mitts for utensils, tablecloths
for eating and dining presents or hang earrings, bracelets and other
jewelry on the Christmas tree itself? Check stores for recycled-content
holiday cards and envelopes or make them yourself. Gift tags can be
made from last year’s recycled holiday cards.
3. Make gift opening an environmentally friendly effort
When it comes to opening those mountains of holiday gifts, there
are ways to manage and minimize waste by following some simple Board
recommendations. Set aside large box containers to hold wrapping paper,
then select those wrappings with potential for reuse next year. Most
gift boxes can be flattened and stored away for extended use again
and again; Christmas cards can become next season’s colorful
gift tags. If you received a new microwave, toaster, clock radio, toy,
or coat, then consider giving away your old appliances, toys, games,
or clothing to a local charity or thrift store. Drop off extra packaging
materials at local private mailing centers, whose phone numbers can
usually be found in the Yellow Pages Directory.
Finally, don’t forget to save all reusable ribbons, bows and
other package decorations for future reuse opportunities. And remember,
donating old TVs, computers, clothes and other items extends their
useful service lives and keeps landfills free of unnecessary waste.
If donation isn’t a practical option, the Board recommends that
consumers learn where to safely recycle their obsolete electronic waste
products at the helpful link:
http://www.erecycle.org/.
4. Recycle Christmas trees
According to the National Christmas Tree Association, more than
33 million real Christmas trees are sold nationwide every year. If
you bought a live Christmas tree, be sure to plant it or donate it
a local school or nursing home to plant on their grounds. If you bought
a cut tree, remove all decorations including tinsel and lights before
recycling. Check your local paper for instructions on recycling options
and the dates for pickup or drop-off. City and county Christmas tree
recycling programs are also advertised on the radio.
Many California communities have Christmas tree recycling programs.
If your city or county is not listed in this directory, contact your
local government or ask your local Christmas tree grower about programs
near you. You can also visit the Earth 911 Website to find a Christmas
tree recycling program in your area.
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