HARRISBURG, Pa. — During a season full of shopping, hosting, and celebrating, it can also be a time with a lot of waste. However, there are things you can do and keep in mind as you get ready for the holiday season to stay mindful of your sustainability.
Lawrence Holley, Director of Pennsylvania DEP’s Bureau of Waste Management, says it all goes back to a basic phrase you likely learned in school.
“Reduce, reuse, and then recycle. Sometimes people think of recycling first but think about reducing and reusing before you get to recycling,” he explained.
Let’s start with the first part of the saying: reduce. As you’re out and about shopping this year, Holley says staying local can help reduce resources like gas and keep your local economy thriving.
“Because you reduce things like truck miles, travel miles, and you also just benefit locally and directly," he said.
Another way you can reduce this holiday season is the food you buy. Make sure to have a list so you don’t overspend and have to throw food out when it expires.
When it comes to wrapping any of those presents you buy, Holley says reusing is your best course of action. Whether it’s boxes or bags from last year or buying a new product that can be used multiple times in the future.
“You’ve got to make those decisions. Do you buy a nice cardboard bag with some pretty designs on it that you can use over and over again? Or do you buy wrapping paper, which in many cases isn’t readily recyclable in your local program?,” says Holley.
Every recycling program is different, so check what you can and cannot recycle with your local program. Generally speaking, cardboard is one of the easiest products to recycle and most widely accepted. Holley says that wrapping paper, while often made of recycled materials, is often not recyclable and will end up in the trash.
If something is not recyclable but still in good condition, donating is another way to reduce waste and help your community.
“It’s not only a good feeling to donate but it’s a positive opportunity because it creates opportunities for others,” says Holley.
Another tip to stay sustainable this time of the year is to make sure you're using LED lights that are energy-efficient on your Christmas tree.
When the holidays are over, that tree can be taken outside to provide shelter for wildlife in the woods, chopped to add insulation to your garden bed, or donated to local tree mulching programs in your community.