By Megan Kennedy, Contributing Writer
The holidays are a time for gift-giving, decorating, and eating lots of food. Inevitably, this can lead to people creating more waste than they normally would. It is important when doing all these things during the Christmas season to be mindful of the planet and realize there are ways to help break the cycle of creating excessive amounts of waste.
One of the first things people tend to do during the Christmas season is put up a Christmas tree to get into the spirit. Although it is great to get a Christmas tree, many times they are just thrown away afterward. To avoid this excess waste, there are other alternatives.
If you get a real Christmas tree, if the tree has roots, it can be replanted for next year and if it does not have roots, it can be given to a recycling plant to be made into mulch. This is a great way to get rid of your tree in an eco-friendly manner.
Another way to help the planet is by saving old wrapping paper. This paper can be reused again in the following years, as well as gift bags. Instead of buying rolls of new paper every year and all new bags, just repurpose it and use it again next year. It will save you money and help save the planet! For money-conscious college kids on a budget, this is extra helpful!
During Christmas, you may also receive new things such as clothes and kids’ toys, which can lead to throwing away older things. Instead of throwing away toys and clothes, you can donate it to those in need. By doing this, nothing old is going to be wasted and it is being used by those who need it.
When it comes to food during the holidays, try and buy only as much as you think you’ll truly need to avoid it going to waste. If you do overbuy, make sure to use the leftovers for other meals! Do your dormmates need lunch for tomorrow? Offer some of your leftovers!
Following these simple tips can help make the holiday season more eco-friendly. Truthfully, even for college kids, there is nothing better than celebrating the holidays and helping the environment at the same time! Even the tiniest adjustments can make an enormous difference.
