Toward the end of A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge pleads with one of the ghosts, vowing that he will change his ways after glimpsing the grim future that awaits.
“I will live in the past, the present, and the future,” Scrooge exclaims. “The spirits of all three shall strive within me.”
The iconic character’s words are good guidance as we kick off another holiday season. For many of us, it’s always been a time of excessive eating, buying, and decorating.
How does all that affect our planet? Let’s take a look.
Past. Picture the festivities of days gone by. Yes, the fond memories stay with us forever, but so do the plastic decorations, wrapping paper, disposable dinnerware, and gifts we no longer need or want. We may cringe at the thought, but most of those items are still in a landfill somewhere.
Present. American consumers throw away 25 percent more waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than they do during the rest of the year. This is on top of the estimated five pounds of waste each of us generates per day. Landfill space doesn’t come cheap at a nationwide average of $53.72 per ton. We landfilled 146.1 tons of municipal solid waste in 2018.
Future. By 2040, it’s estimated that the amount of plastic in the ocean will triple. By 2050, the amount of waste generated per person per day in high-income countries like the U.S. is projected to increase 19 percent.
Like Scrooge, we can learn from the past and act in the present to protect the future. We can reduce our waste by modifying our choices, especially around the holidays. Doing so can save us time, money, and energy. Here are some ideas.
1. Shop local and small.
The Richmond region is home to countless crafters, makers, vintage stores, and locally owned shops. Support small businesses rather than large online retailers or big-box stores. Check out the many holiday markets happening on the weekends. When you shop locally, you can buy items without the packing materials in shipped boxes.
Not only are loved ones more likely to hang on to one-of-a-kind gifts, but they also might appreciate the concept of giving fun instead of stuff. Consider giving experiences, annual passes, or memberships.
2. Wrap green.
We typically use gift wrap once and throw it away. Look for wrap made from recycled material that can then be recycled (shiny, metallic, or glitter gift wrap can’t be recycled).
There’s nothing wrong with wrapping gifts in good recyclable craft paper. You can make packages festive by adding real pine cones, cinnamon sticks, and greenery. Try challenging yourself to make wrapping part of the present. For example, wrap gifts for the kitchen in new dish towels. Reuse decorative tins, boxes, and gift bags from past holidays.
3. Just say no to party plastic.
Forgo single-use utensils, plates, and cups (some of the biggest reasons for our plastic problem). The holidays are the time to pull out the classy stuff we never use. Dust off Grandma’s punch bowl set and the table linens you splurged on years ago.
For décor, bring nature inside with real evergreen swags and fruit as opposed to plastic and foam tchotchkes. Try your hand at making garland with cranberries and popcorn.
When the party starts, make sure guests know you recycle. Set up containers for them to deposit their bottles and cans conveniently. Take it a step further with a container for composting food scraps. And investigate Richmond’s new composting program while you’re at it!
4. Recycle right.
Recycling is an important way to divert some holiday waste from the landfill. Make sure you’re doing it right. Reuse boxes as long as possible and flatten them before recycling. Rinse bottles, cans, jugs, and tubs (food-contaminated items can’t be recycled). Keep Styrofoam and plastic bags out of curbside and drop-off recycling bins. Never put old light strands or tinsel in your recycling container. And, yes, Virginia! Real Christmas trees can be recycled. Many communities chip trees into mulch. Check CVWMA.com to see if your locality offers such a program.
5. Buy and send sustainable holiday cards.
If you send cards, opt for ones printed on recycled paper. Make sure your cards can also be recycled later. Avoid buying cards with glitter, gems, and embellishments as these are not recyclable.
Consider giving old greeting cards new life by having your kids craft with them. Handmade cards are always a treat to receive. Also, a recycled card program through St. Jude’s Ranch for Children (stjudesranch.org) lets you recycle in a very specific way. They accept the fronts of recycled cards and new cards with or without envelopes. The program provides teens with life and work skills.
The holidays don’t need to be about excess. If we change our ways, we can avoid a grim future when it comes to the planet. And we might just recapture some lost holiday spirit in the process. Like Scrooge, let’s learn from the past, be in the present, and act for the future.
