Holiday Joy Makes a Merry Mess: State provides easy tips on how to be green and environmentally friendly

SACRAMENTO--Between the stuffing of the turkey and ringing in the New Year, like the rest of the nation, California generates an enormous amount of waste. But the California Integrated Waste Management Board has some holiday waste management tips that even the Grinch can't steal away.

It is estimated that between Thanksgiving and the New Year an extra million tons of waste are generated nationwide each week. In fact, 38,000 miles of ribbon alone is thrown out each year--enough to tie a bow around the Earth!

"We can all get a little carried away with the season's festivities," said Board Chair Margo Reid Brown. "In the spirit of giving, the Waste Board is happy to offer some helpful tips that we can all take to heart."

1. Buy gifts made from recycled products.

When it comes to gifts, the Board suggests giving the ones that "Yule" remember. Some of the most unique and interesting gift items can be found online at outlets like RecycleStore. The RecycleStore website lists items from a host of imaginative manufacturers that specialize in making recycled-content products for shoppers looking to give family and friends a holiday gift to cherish for Christmases to come. Products from the RecycleStore run the gamut from:

• Stunning home furniture (such as teak four-door armoires made from demolished homes in Java) by Wooden Duck of Berkeley
  
  to:
  
• Recycled cardboard and wax fireplace logs by the E-Z Lite Log Company in Yreka and
• Men's and women's Lazy Boy flip flops made from 100 percent recycled tires by Splaff Flops of San Diego.

If you think recycled goods make second-class gifts, the RecycleStore will make buyers check their shopping lists twice.

According to the Board, some of the most memorable gifts can have the least environmental impact, with a little forethought. Gift certificates, tickets to sporting and entertainment events, and homemade items all have special meanings to those on the receiving end.

Given the number of Christmas gifts sure to run on batteries this season, the Board reminds buyers that rechargeable power sources are easier on the environment and can be thrifty in the long run. Visit CIWMB's rechargeable batteries web page for more information about the seasonal merits of using rechargeable batteries.

2. Be creative when wrapping gifts.

When it comes to wrapping that special holiday season gift, the Board offers waste-not tips that can rival the gifts themselves in thought and ingenuity. Instead of purchasing reams of expensive wrapping paper, why not substitute reusable boxes, brightly colored canvas tote bags, colorful pillow cases or holiday fabric for toys and similar items, dish towels for kitchen ware, oven mitts for utensils, tablecloths for eating and dining presents or hang earrings, bracelets and other jewelry on the Christmas tree itself? Check stores for recycled-content holiday cards and envelopes or make them yourself. Gift tags can be made from last year's recycled holiday cards.

3. Make gift opening an environmentally friendly effort.

When it comes to opening those mountains of holiday gifts, there are ways to manage and minimize waste by following some simple Board recommendations:

• Set aside large box containers to hold wrapping paper, then select those wrappings with potential for reuse next year. Most gift boxes can be flattened and stored away for extended use again and again.
• Christmas cards can become next season's colorful gift tags.
• If you received a new microwave, toaster, clock radio, toy, or coat, then consider giving away your old appliances, toys, games, or clothing to a local charity or thrift store.
• Drop off extra packaging materials at local private mailing centers, whose phone numbers can usually be found in the Yellow Pages Directory.
• Finally, don't forget to save all reusable ribbons, bows and other package decorations for future reuse opportunities.

And remember, donating old TVs, computers, clothes and other items extends their useful service lives and keeps landfills free of unnecessary waste. If donation isn't a practical option, the Board recommends that consumers learn where to safely recycle their obsolete electronic waste products.

4. Recycle Christmas trees.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, more than 33 million real Christmas trees are sold nationwide every year. If you bought a live Christmas tree, be sure to plant it or donate it a local school or nursing home to plant on their grounds. If you bought a cut tree, remove all decorations including tinsel and lights before recycling. Check your local paper for instructions on recycling options and the dates for pickup or drop-off. City and county Christmas tree recycling programs are also advertised on the radio.

Many California communities have Christmas tree recycling programs. If your city or county is not listed in this directory, contact your local government or ask your local Christmas tree grower about programs near you. You can also visit the Earth 911 website to find a Christmas tree recycling program in your area.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is the state's leading authority on recycling and waste reduction. It promotes reducing waste whenever possible, managing all materials to their highest and best use and protecting public health and safety and the environment.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is one of six boards, departments, and offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).

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Zero Waste California
Visit us at www.ciwmb.ca.gov to learn more about reducing waste.