The Resolutions you should have made
Katherine Gottli
Issue date: 1/6/09 Section: Features
Though it will be difficult to completely change the face of a consumer, and wasteful, Christmas, there are many different ways that the amount of waste can be cut down significantly for next years holiday season.
Lights
Many houses have already adorned themselves with new energy saving LED lights.
The tiny light bulbs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs. As they do not use a filament, they are also more durable and do not break as easily.
LED lights only use two to 10 watts of energy, which is only one third of the amount of energy used by incandescent lights.
Beyond that, they are bright and come in a variety of colours for inside and outside the home.
Tree
Real Christmas trees can be turned into valuable compost.
In St. Catharines, Christmas trees will be picked up on Jan. 10, and must not be placed in snow banks, and have all decorations and plastic removed. This is the only day which trees will be picked up, as any other time, they should be taken directly to a regional landfill.
Depression
To combat the depression that frequently comes along with the holidays, the best option is to exercise and eat healthy. A healthy body will increase the oxygen flow through your system, increasing your mood.
If the depression does become too much to bear, however, medical attention should be sought out.
General Waste
Cutting down on the general waste during the holiday season is simple: recycle.
Recycle old wrapping paper, gifts bags, etc. Use cloth or old newspapers to wrap gifts. Look for gifts that do not have excessive amounts of packaging, or make your own. Scope out second-hand stores for unique gifts at reasonable prices.
Particularly attractive Christmas cards can be saved and used as gift tags next years. Or, better yet, send a quick e-mail or call.
Rather than covering leftovers with plastic wrap, use reusable containers that can be washed and returned (even if it means you have to wait a whole year).
Lights
Many houses have already adorned themselves with new energy saving LED lights.
The tiny light bulbs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs. As they do not use a filament, they are also more durable and do not break as easily.
LED lights only use two to 10 watts of energy, which is only one third of the amount of energy used by incandescent lights.
Beyond that, they are bright and come in a variety of colours for inside and outside the home.
Tree
Real Christmas trees can be turned into valuable compost.
In St. Catharines, Christmas trees will be picked up on Jan. 10, and must not be placed in snow banks, and have all decorations and plastic removed. This is the only day which trees will be picked up, as any other time, they should be taken directly to a regional landfill.
Depression
To combat the depression that frequently comes along with the holidays, the best option is to exercise and eat healthy. A healthy body will increase the oxygen flow through your system, increasing your mood.
If the depression does become too much to bear, however, medical attention should be sought out.
General Waste
Cutting down on the general waste during the holiday season is simple: recycle.
Recycle old wrapping paper, gifts bags, etc. Use cloth or old newspapers to wrap gifts. Look for gifts that do not have excessive amounts of packaging, or make your own. Scope out second-hand stores for unique gifts at reasonable prices.
Particularly attractive Christmas cards can be saved and used as gift tags next years. Or, better yet, send a quick e-mail or call.
Rather than covering leftovers with plastic wrap, use reusable containers that can be washed and returned (even if it means you have to wait a whole year).
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