I'm dreaming of a...Green Christmas?

Sherwood Park News, Wednesday December 15, 2004

By Julie Rice— The recent snowfall has indicated Sherwood Park residents will likely enjoy a white Christmas this year; however, while you are enjoying the season, do not forget the importance of keeping your holidays green as well. Lorenzo Donini, one of three co-owners of Ever Green Recycling in the Park, said there are many practical ways to remain friendly to your environment this season.

One simple tip he suggested is to be conscious of how much packaging you are purchasing with your gifts and where it goes after they are opened.
Many companies tend to use an excessive amount of packaging with their items. If you can, Donini suggests trying to purchase items that have less plastic or cardboard around them. However, he added, you cannot always get around it. “If you want a specific toy, then unfortunately you are stuck with the packaging. But you can at least make sure that packaging is properly recycled.” He also suggested getting creative with your gift wrap ideas, like re-using other people’s wrapping paper or gift bags from last year or using other paper items like old comics or newspaper. Another great idea is to wrap them in personal items like towels, scarves, cloth napkins or even small clothing items.
 

Along with gifts, there is always that Christmas dinner to serve. Donini said when it comes to food, you can conserve money and the environment by buying only as much as you really need. “A lot of times when people go out to shop for their guests, they want to buy as much food as possible,” he explained. He suggested a smaller, specifically designed meal served simply might be an even greater treat. “Probably you’re going to have some knowledge of your guests, what they like or don’t like, and then you can buy for them, which is probably an even greater compliment than the mass smorgasbord approach.”  Also, when you take a trip to the grocery store, don’t forget to bring your own knapsack or cloth shopping bag instead of using the plastic bags provided.

Then there’s the traditional sign of the season -- a Christmas tree. Donini suggested purchasing a fake tree, and re-use for years. If you do buy a real tree, he added, make sure it’s properly recycled after.  “It’s a tree that basically was cut down, used for two months mainly for appearance, and now it’s being thrown out,” he explained. “Then when woodchips are required for other products, they have to cut down another tree.”

Strathcona County has a curbside Christmas tree pickup program that sees old trees hauled to the municipal composting operation where they are chipped and processed. When you put your Christmas tree out for pickup, take it out of the stand, and remove all tinsel, decorations and plastic bags.
 

And if you’re picking up new electronic devices for someone this year, don’t forget that the old ones can be recycled. Palm Pilots, laptop computers, TVs, VCRs, stereos, monitors, cell phones, cordless phones, and miscellaneous electronic toys like remote controlled cars can all be recycled at the Eco-Station for no charge.

Then there are the common sense tips -- don’t leave your Christmas lights on all day when no one can see them anyways, use re-chargeable batteries for all those new toys and electronic gadgets, and turn down the thermostat a few degrees to save on your electrical bill.

By implementing just one or two of these tips at a time, you can give a gift to the environment as well as those you love by keeping your season green.