EPA folks have some handy ideas on how to trim down the enormous
mounds of waste that is dumped into landfills during and after
every holiday season. You can get your family involved at home,
and your coworkers involved at the office. For younger kids, you
can make a game out of it. For older “kids,” an incentive may be
needed, such as dinner at a local restaurant for the person or
team who recycles the most between now and New Year’s. Thousands
of paper and plastic shopping bags end up in landfills every
year. Reduce the number of bags thrown out by bringing reusable
cloth bags for holiday gift shopping. Tell store clerks you
don’t need a bag for small or oversized purchases [especially if
you’re carrying around an over-sized tote Wrap gifts in recycled
or reused wrapping paper or funny papers. Also remember to save
or recycle used wrapping paper [we do this in my family a lot].
Give gifts that don’t require much packaging, such as concert
tickets or gift certificates [or cash!]. Send recycled-content
greeti