Waste Alternatives, Zero Waste Group
Public Group
Description
This group works to Embrace Zero Waste and ELIMINATE the ineffcient use of our finite resources.
News
Happy Holidays from the Waste Watcher and His Team
Let’s face it, we all love the holidays! We visit more, buy more, eat more and give more but, the result of all this visiting, buying, eating and giving is that we make more waste! Boxes, wrapping paper, plastic shopping bags, packaging, ribbons, bows, food waste – it all adds up. In fact, it is estimated that Americans generate 25 percent more trash during the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, than any other time of the year. So this is a great opportunity to Embrace Zero Waste! If we all practice the reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink philosophy, we can save resources, our time and money and maybe even reduce some holiday stress.
So in the spirit of giving, we offer you these tips to help reduce your waste during the holidays and though out the year.
Give More – Waste Less, Gift- Giving Ideas
Give your time. Offer to clean someone’s house, babysit, pet sit or run their errands.
Give your talent. Offer your talents at gardening or photography or teach someone to play the piano.
Give entertainment. Give tickets to a gator game, movie or a play. Give a State Park membership or hunting or fishing licenses.
Give homemade. Give your homemade goodies in a tin, jar or basket that can be reused. Give handmade crafts or framed photographs.
Give learning. Lots of people want to try new things but won’t spend the money on themselves. Give cooking, writing or computer classes. Give guitar or golf lessons. Knowledge is good.
Give health and fitness. Give gym memberships or personal training sessions. Give classes in yoga, belly dancing, salsa dance or Pilates.
Give pampering. Give a gift certificate for a massage, facial, manicure or pedicure.
Give to the greater good. Make a charitable donation in someone’s name. Donate unwanted items to a non-profit organization instead of throwing them away or post them to give away on the Alachua Exchange (www.alachuaexchange.com).
Give gifts that keep on giving. Consider a battery charger, perpetual calendar or an erasable message board. Avoid gag gifts. They often quickly become trash. You save money, too. Keep it simple. One thoughtful gift is better than six wrapped packages of unwanted gifts.
Wrap it up? Let’s not!
Don’t wrap at all. Tickets, gift certificates, house plants are good to go.
Tie a ribbon. When giving oversized gifts don’t wrap them, just tie a bow around it!
Make the wrap part of the gift. Give your homemade treats in a reusable tin. Kitchen gifts can be wrapped in a colorful dish towel. Tools for a gardener can be placed in a flowerpot or planter.
Reuse. If you have to wrap, wrap gifts in old maps, blue prints, or the Sunday comics.
Buy recycled. If you must buy, buy recycled-content wrapping paper.
It’s in the Cards!
Consider not buying holiday greeting cards. Send your holiday greetings electronically.
If you buy, buy local or buy recycled!
Buy Local! There many great gift items that come right from our area. If you send holiday greeting cards, buy recycled-content cards.
Reuse the cards. Cut up and use your holiday greetings cards as gift tags.
Recycle. You can recycle your holiday greetings cards with mixed paper or magazines.
Embracing Zero Waste is not just for the Holidays!
Make it a habit. Make a New Year’s resolution to Embrace Zero Waste throughout the year.
From all of us at Waste Alternatives
Have a Safe, Happy and Healthy Holiday!
For more information contact us at 352-374-5213or visit us on the web at http://www.thewastewatcher.com
