10 Easy Ways To Reduce Holiday Waste (infographic)

The amount of extra waste generated during the holidays is astonishing. Studies reveal waste is increased by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Years. Here is a fabulous infographic that shows us what gets tossed and wasted each holiday season. Want to make a dent into reducing your holiday footprint? Here are 10 ways to reduce holiday waste:

1. Reduce using paper and plastic shopping bags – Thousands of bags end up our landfills during the holidays. Reduce the number of bags by bringing reusable cloth bags for holiday gift shopping. Here’s a tutorial for making your own reusable bags.

2. Wrap gifts in recycled or reused wrapping paper – Save and recycle used wrapping paper or create your own from upcycled items. Here are 5 eco-friendly wrapping ideas.

3. Send eCards or recycled-content greeting cards – Recycle paper cards and send electronic greeting cards to reduce paper waste. Here are my 5 reasons why people don’t recycle and 5 reasons they should and Care2’s eCard collection.

4. Use rechargeable batteries or give a solar battery gift - About 40 percent of all battery sales occur during the holiday season. Rechargeable batteries reduce the amount of potentially harmful materials that end up in our landfills. Check out this cool solar backpack that recharges gadgets.

5. Turn off or unplug holiday lights during the day – This saves energy and makes lights last longer. Switch to LED holiday lights.

6. Recycle the Christmas tree – Approximately 33 million live Christmas trees are sold in North America every year. Turn your tree into a feast for the birds.

7. Use a potted tree and plant it – Here are some options for purchasing a live tree that can be replanted.

8. Throw a make-your-own-decorations party – Here’s some fabulous DIY holiday decorations and seasonal scents to create to make the season bright!

9. Give quality gifts – Durable products last longer. Cheaper, less durable items can wear out quickly and create more landfill waste. Here’s a company that creates quality items and curbs clothing consumption.

10. Create and give handmade gifts from recycled materials – Here are some of the wonderful reasons to create handmade gifts. Here’s a blizzard of DIY holiday gift ideas.

How do you reduce holiday waste?

Sources: EPA, Recycleworks, Care2, Econesting, Practically Green, Green Upgrader

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

KS G.

12:33AM PST on Feb 4, 2012

Thanks for the article.

send a green star

Michele W.

9:52AM PST on Dec 28, 2011

Thank you

Joe R.

4:29AM PST on Dec 25, 2011

Thanks.

Alison C.

1:16PM PST on Dec 24, 2011

Thanks, I like to recycle.

Nino U.

12:27PM PST on Dec 22, 2011

A good idea is to walk to the local shop in the hood instead of using a car to go to the mall as one than saves gas and there's no emission. Buying larger amounts of fruit/veg at the local market is also a good idea as one than needs only one bigger bag for all the kinds of fruit/veg (asks the lady/guy that sells it after taking a weigh, to put it directly into one's bag (which can be used many times)). Also: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/6-ways-to-make-reusable-bags-even-greener.html?page=4

12:20PM PST on Dec 22, 2011

Strolling to your local small shop in the hood is a good idea, as than one saves money for gas if going to the mall + there's no gas emission. Buying fruit and vegetables on local markets is a good idea also, as one can take one bag for a larger amounts so there's no need for tons of plastic bags for each fruit/veg kind. Also: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/6-ways-to-make-reusable-bags-even-greener.html?page=4

Sarah M.

9:26PM PST on Dec 20, 2011

thanks

Eternal G.

5:21PM PST on Dec 19, 2011

Always good these tips, thanks.

Nina A.

8:43AM PST on Dec 18, 2011

Great tips - thanks!

Monica D.

5:55PM PST on Dec 17, 2011

Thank you, good suggestions. And one can donate to an environmentally friendly charity.