CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Did you know that outside of the permanent change of station season, the month of December produces the largest amount of solid waste of the year? Airmen should do their part to help by recycling.
Here are a few tips from the United States Environmental Protection Agency:
· Thousands of paper and plastic shopping bags end up in landfills every year. Reduce the number of bags thrown out by bringing reusable cloth bags for holiday gift shopping. Tell store clerks you don't want a bag for small or oversized items; they are not necessary.
· Wrap gifts in recycled or reused wrapping paper or funny papers. Also remember to save or recycle used wrapping paper. Give gifts that don't require much packaging, such as concert tickets or gift certificates.
· Send recycled-content greeting cards to reduce the amount of virgin paper used during the holidays. Remember to recycle any paper cards received. Airmen can also try sending electronic greeting cards to reduce paper waste.
· About 40 percent of all battery sales occur during the holiday season. Buy rechargeable batteries to accompany electronic gifts, and consider giving a battery charger as well. Rechargeable batteries reduce the amount of potentially harmful materials thrown away and can save money in the long run.
· Turn off or unplug holiday lights during the day. Doing so will not only save energy, but will also help lights last longer.
· Approximately 33 million live trees are sold in North America every year. After the holidays, look for ways to recycle the tree instead of sending it to a landfill. Check with the community's solid waste department and find out if they collect and mulch trees. Your town might be able to use chippings from mulched trees for hiking trails and beachfront erosion barriers.
· To help prevent waste from cutting down and disposing of live trees, buy a potted tree and plant it after the holidays.
· Have a create-your-own decorations party. Invite family and friends to create and use holiday decorations such as ornaments made from old greeting cards or cookie dough, garlands made from strung popcorn or cranberries, wreaths made from artificial greens and flowers, and potpourri made from kitchen spices such as cinnamon and cloves.
· Consider the durability of a product before buying it as a gift. Cheaper, less durable items often wear out quickly, creating waste and costing money.
· When buying gifts, check product labels to determine if an item can be recycled and whether it is made from recycled materials. Buying recycled items encourages manufacturers to make more recycled-content products available.
· Use your own camera instead of a disposable one to reduce waste while capturing holiday memories. Airmen should consider buying a digital camera so they don't have to use film and only print the pictures they want to keep.
For additional tips on reducing holiday waste, visit the United States EPA at www.epa.gov/osw/specials/funfacts/winter.htm.
If you live in military family housing and would like to dispose of a tree after the holidays, the base refuse contractor will be picking up trees any Wednesday in January during their large item pickup.