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MCC Daily Tribune

Green Tip: Be Green this Holiday Season

Holiday time can increase the amount of waste we all make. According to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, "Americans throw away 25% more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year's holiday season. That amounts to 25 million tons of garbage!" Here are some ways for you to be more sustainable during this season.

  • Shop locally - reducing gas used in travel while you support local businesses.
  • Give vintage or recycled objects – it can be fun to find them and you are giving new use to the item(s).
  • Give gifts that are experiences - consider gift certificates to local museums, a subscription to a streaming platform, or membership to your local swimming pool
  • Give vouchers for ‘services’ such as pet sitting or plant watering when the owners are away.
  • Make your own gift - food such as breads, cookies, and cakes are delicious options and can be fun to make as a family.
  • Be creative with your wrapping - use newspapers (Sunday comics), maps, posters, children's artwork; or usable items like scarves, handkerchiefs or bandannas that are gifts also! If every American family wrapped just 3 presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields. (AASHE)
  • Consider a small, live, containerized tree that can be added to your landscaping in the spring rather than a cut tree.
  • LED lights are more energy efficient, last longer and are safer (cooler to the touch) - If you need new lights, buy LED.

Ann Penwarden
Sustainability Steering Committee
12/14/2021