Reduce holiday waste

November 18, 2009

Gina Noe The Richmond Register Wed Nov 18, 2009, 08:32 AM EST

It may seem a little early to start writing about the holidays, but since Sunday was America Recycles Day, I am going to pass on a few tips for reducing the amount of trash we generate during the holiday season. As you prepare to celebrate the holidays, try some of these ideas to reduce your waste.

When entertaining this season, avoid the use of disposable tableware as much as possible. Bring out your favorite dishes for special occasions. Why have them if you are not going to enjoy them? Invest in a reusable holiday tablecloth to avoid using disposable paper or plastic ones. If you need extra dishes and tableware for your holiday entertaining, consider borrowing or renting dishes, napkins, tablecloths, glasses and utensils instead of buying disposables. You might also consider shopping yard sales and thrift stores throughout the year to build your holiday entertaining supplies.

Buy food items in bulk when possible to cut down on the amount of packaging — and trash. Always have containers for separating recyclable items like pop cans and bottles in easy-to-find areas, and encourage your guest to help you recycle. These tips are good year around.

When decorating, use natural items that can be composted. Pumpkins, gourds, pine cones, ever green branches and even hedge apples make beautiful decorations. What decorations you can bring in from your landscape? Use your imagination. If you don’t have natural materials to work with, the next best thing is artificial decorations that you can store and use for many years. You might even want to trade decorations with friends and family to make holiday decorating more interesting, but inexpensive.

If you are making your gift list, consider something from the kitchen. Few gifts bring a smile to the face faster than home baked foods from the oven. Yeast or quick breads will meet almost any gift need. If you preserved any of your garden harvest, share the bounty. Jams and jellies, bread and butter pickles, relish or chutney are all welcome treats. When your guests are finished with the item, they might even return the empty jars for refilling next year.

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