The holiday season has arrived, when we can spend a lot of time with our loved ones and have a great time, while generating a huge amount of waste… Christmas can be the most wonderful time of the year and also the most wasted time of the year. all of us.
During the holidays we are with family and friends, eat and drink a lot and often spend a lot on gifts and Christmas cards. Christmas markets and deals also encourage us to buy shiny new souvenirs, home decorations, and festive sweets, all wrapped in expensive packaging. Unfortunately, most of it ends up in the trash.
Excess waste generated during the holiday season
Christmas can also be referred to as “the world’s largest annual environmental disaster” because it has a great impact on environmental pollution and waste. It is estimated that some British families spend more than 60% of their income at this time, and during the festive season 30% more household waste is generated than usual. Bins filled with festive food waste, ribbons and bows, packaging materials, shopping bags and wrapping paper contribute an extra million tonnes to UK landfill each week.
As consumers, we are increasingly concerned about the impact on the environment and the sustainability of our activities, and that includes Christmas. It is estimated that 125,000 tons of plastic packaging is produced in the UK at Christmas, which is a number that may come as a surprise to hear. The British throw away an average of 228,000 miles of wrapping paper each year, enough to cover a distance close to the moon.
Let’s reduce the amount of waste during the Christmas holidays!
During the Christmas period, we generate a lot of solid and plastic waste, thus harming the environment. It is therefore especially important during the holidays to practice proper solid waste management.
To reduce the amount of wrapping paper that currently ends up in landfills, use biodegradable paper, tarp, and other fabrics to wrap gifts. Most brown paper can be recycled and composted, and because it is unbleached, it undergoes minimal chemical processing during production. Also, wrapping can be fun and creative by using colorful newspaper or magazine pages or reusing existing wrapping paper and gift bags.
For gifts, looking for durable, reusable items and resisting the latest “fads” at the mall can help reduce waste. Just think of how much unnecessary feces end up in landfills!
Although they smell good and add a really festive feel to your home or workplace, one problem with real Christmas trees is that, according to statistics, huge amounts (250 tons in the UK) are thrown away after the holidays, although they can turn to compost. Instead of buying, you can choose to rent a tree, as many horticultural points across the country offer this service. Another option is to purchase a spherical tree that can be kept year after year. In the UK, for example, an average of 7 million Christmas trees end up in landfill each year, producing more than 100,000 tons of greenhouse gases.
Think of homemade gifts: homemade cookies, jam, small household items, and toys. Or where there is absolutely no waste: tickets to the cinema, theatre, concerts and dinners in a restaurant. Or in things that “go out”: like handmade candles, soaps, or seeds for next year’s vegetable garden.
Avoid plastic decorations. Choose glass, wood, metal and natural motifs instead of plastic. It can be a fun activity to make your own natural or recycled decorations.
If you’re throwing an extravagant festive event, stick to ceramic dishes or reusable plates, as well as glass, ceramic, and metal dishes and cutlery. We can even encourage our friends or family members to bring their own glass to the reception.
(Source: evreka.co)
