holiday waste & energy efficiency

Be aware to the waste and to the energy-inefficiency associated with paper and plastic shopping bags, decorations, batteries or holiday lights...

Prefer smart Christmas gifts to avoid more waste Our small acts at this level may look unimportant. But small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, have a huge environmental impact.

It's estimated that between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day the United States generate more than 5 million tons of additional waste.

Decorative lighting

Decorative Christmas lighting is an important area of holiday waste. Reduce energy bills by avoiding incandescent light strings and other low-efficient Christmas and holiday displays and decoration. Prefer energy-efficient decorations...

See: Christmas Lighting and Efficiency

Prefer recycled and durable gifts to avoid holiday waste

When shopping, do not forget the durability of your gifts and holiday purchases. Do not choose cheap and short-lifespan products, or items that wear out quickly. That will create more waste, will cost you more in the end and is environmentally-unsound.

Whenever possible, prefer recyclable products. When shopping, check the product labels to see if they are recyclable and also the recycled materials they may use.

Buy recycled, whenever available. It will encourage manufacturers to produce them. Avoid dischargeable products.

Wrapping Paper, Plastic bags

Millions of paper and plastic shopping bags end up in landfills… Wrapping gifts in recycled or reused wrapping paper, or using reusable cloth bags for holiday gift shopping is very important and a source of energy-efficiency.

Image below: In USA prefer Products with the label Design for the Environment

Christmas trees

Many millions of Christmas trees end up in landfills, after the holidays. To help prevent that holiday waste, buy a potted tree and… plant it after the holidays.

You may also look for ways to recycle your tree (some communities have programs that use the branches and the trunk of the trees to make mulch for gardens, parks and other uses).

See, for more information on holiday waste:
EPA Reducing Holiday Waste
Sao Mateos County on Holiday Waste
CalRecycle and Holiday Waste