This holiday season, the Estuary shares the following tips and alternatives for being environmentally responsible. Share them with your family and friends to make this time of year conscious, fair, and sustainable:
- Avoid using plastic materials. Use your own dishes and bring reusable cups and cutlery. Otherwise, at least use a marker to identify your cup and reuse it safely.
- Recycle your natural tree. If you have an artificial tree, keep it year after year and reduce your carbon footprint. Whether it's a natural or artificial tree, it requires importing, which has an impact due to the energy consumed in transporting it, as well as its harvesting or production. Get creative and look for sustainable alternatives for making a Christmas tree.
- Reuse the paper you have at home to create Christmas cards.Avoid buying materials that can't be recycled. Another option is to send a digital card. Or better yet, tell your loved ones how much you care.
- Buy local. Support local businesses and you'll also reduce energy consumption and waste related to packaging and imports. Look for gifts that are useful, practical, durable, and environmentally responsible. This way, you'll also be supporting the local economy.
- Create your own gifts And reuse paper to wrap them. It's cheaper and makes them special.
- Consider using recycled paper (perió(Disc/magazine) as wrapping for your gifts c. It will be an original wrapping!
- Use LED lights (These consume 90% less energy than incandescent lights), rechargeable batteries, and energy-saving devices. Store batteries, equipment, and appliances and find alternatives for their proper disposal.
- Consume responsibly. If you have leftover food, many people will appreciate it. Also, consider composting the materials before throwing them away.
- Consider local and organic foods. This way, you reduce the carbon footprint related to imports and avoid the use of fertilizers and herbicides.
- Dispose of used cooking oil properly. Don't pour it down the sink. Save it in a plastic bottle and reuse this material. It can be turned into soaps, candles, and other beneficial products..
- Turn off the air conditioning. Enjoy the cool Christmas weather,
- Donate any unwanted gifts Or donate them to a charity, bringing joy to someone else and preventing them from ending up in a landfill.
- Have fun making your own Christmas decorations (See the video below for ideas).
Reducing the amount of waste we generate and the energy we consume makes our infrastructure more resilient and reduces the effects associated with climate change. The Estuary is working with communities throughout the watershed to achieve a healthy environment and more resilient infrastructure. We want you to be part of that effort. From everyone at the Estuary, we wish you Happy Holidays!
