The Lopez Dump might be forgiven for feeling humbuggy this season. According to Education and Outreach Coordinator and Take It Or Leave It Goddess Nikyta Palmisani, garbage increases by 25 percent nationally over the holidays – that’s an extra 25 million tons. Most wrapping paper is not recyclable, due to metal or plastic content or tape. Then there are those 2.65 billion annually discarded Christmas cards, not to mention 38,000 miles of discarded ribbon, enough to tie a bow around the whole earth.
Wishing to be part of the solution rather than the problem, the Dump has some recommendations for gift buying and wrapping. And to keep trash down and spirits up, it’s putting those recommendations into action, 5 p.m. next Monday, Dec.14, at TIOLI’s Second Annual Ugly Sweater Holiday Party.
Demonstrate your zero waste ethics by bringing your own mug to TIOLI, to be filled compliments of Lopez Island Coffee Roasters (who uses completely recyclable bags). Prizes will be awarded for ugliest sweater, most creative, best re-use of materials, and a few other categories, as well as “the best white elephant gift exchange you’ve ever seen,” Palmisani promises. The Nada Basura (“Zero Waste”) Band will play their selection of zero waste songs, and other musical guests will play “up-cycled” and locally created instruments.
Can’t make the party on the 14th? You can still promote Lopez’s zero waste lifestyle by following these tips from Palmisani:
1. When wrapping, look for recyclable paper – avoid foil – or better yet, make your own out of recyclable materials like paper bags, magazines, or fabrics. Try creating drawstring fabric bags that can be reused year after year. “It only takes a one-time effort to create really gorgeous ones, and you can easily up-cycle fabrics you have at home, like festive flannels,” says Palmisani, and she recommends these websites to show you how: www.suburble.com/2014/12/make-reusable-christmas-wrap.html
http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2012/11/drawstring-fabric-gift-bag-tutorial.html
Need more waste-reducing wrapping ideas?
• Replace ribbons and bows with reusable, creative things like hair scrunchies, shoelaces, scarves and neckties
• Use natural items for decorating gifts (grasses, thistle pods, seeds, pinecones, leaves)
• Try alternative wrapping, like newspaper comics or old posters, maps and sheet music.
Need to see these ideas for yourself? Palmisani and dump volunteer Shirley Wilbur have creative examples on display at the TIOLI. Or come to the party on Dec. 14, where many of these ideas will show up as prizes.
2. When shopping, if possible, buy local think before you buy online; online sales increase both packaging materials and emissions. With so many local holiday bazaars, it’s easy to support local artists and artisans while helping the planet. If you do shop online, consider gift certificates, and if shopping off-island, remember to bring your own cloth bags.
3. Decorating a tree? Consider these options:
Decorate a potted tree or house plant, or purchase a live tree to transplant later
Use glass icicles instead of disposable tinsel
Use smaller lights, or LEDs, which use less energy and burn cooler
Recycle your cut tree, or compost it for garden mulch
4. Have a Zero Waste party of your own!
• Use reusable plates and utensils and glasses
• Set up a recycling station for guests
• Ask guests to bring reusable containers so they can take home leftovers
“This event is a great time to remember that Lopez does zero waste so well,” says Palmisani. “Our TIOLI has taken in over 109 tons of donations this year alone – along with all the ugly sweaters! – and smart holiday shopping and wrapping is just another way that Lopezians are doing their part to Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle.” The Dump hopes to see everyone on Dec. 14…and hopes NOT to see as much non-recyclable gift paper in the trash.
