Happy Holidays, folks.
Here are some U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tips for reducing, reusing and recycling the mountains of "waste" that we tend to create this time of year:
- Bring reusable cloth bags for holiday gift shopping and tell store clerks you don't need a bag for small or oversized items.
- Wrap gifts in recycled or reused wrapping paper or funny papers. Save or recycle used wrapping paper. Give gifts that don't need much packaging, such as concert tickets or gift certificates.
- Send recycled-content greeting cards and recycle all paper cards. Try sending electronic greeting cards to reduce paper waste.
- Buy rechargeable batteries for electronic gifts, and consider giving a battery charger.
- Turn off or unplug holiday lights during the day.
- Look for ways to recycle your Christmas tree instead of sending it to a landfill. Check whether your community solid waste department collects and mulches trees.
- Consider buying a potted tree and plant it after the holidays.
- Check product labels to see if items are recyclable and made from recycled materials. Buying recycled materials encourages companies to make more recycled-content products.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The N.J. Department of Environmental Protection has also posted a list of holiday tips.
Moreover, the Monmouth County Planning Board and Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management have posted lots of information on recycling.
You can also call your county and municipal recycling coordinators for information on recycling during the holidays and year-round.
