Did you know that the amount of garbage sent to a Landfill between Thanksgiving and New Years increases by 25 per cent? To encourage waste reduction this holiday season, check out our Holiday Recycling Tips!

Reuse

1. Save money and unnecessary waste by making your own cards, wreaths and ornaments this holiday season.
2. Always bring your reusable bags with you when you do your holiday shopping.
3. Get more our of your paper and cardboard recycling by using these items as gift wrap. You can reuse foil, newspaper and bags.
4. If holiday lights are in good condition, store them safely to reuse them again next year. If they no longer work, put them in your garbage cart.

Reduce

Food

1. A lot of food is wasted during the holidays. Be realistic about how much food you will need for your holiday feast and send leftovers home with guests.
2. If you do have food waste, put it in your garbage cart. Organic materials quickly decompose, producing methane gas that is converted to a fuel source that heats and powers the Aquatera Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant.
3. Minimize the use of plastic, paper and Styrofoam dinnerware and cutlery by bringing out your fancy holiday dinnerware.

Gifts

1. Access over ownership – buy apps, subscriptions, refillable gift cards, ebooks as gifts and save the waste.
2. Get crafty – give the gift of creativity by getting crafty with homemade gifts. Melt down old candles to create a new one, pain and personalize old mugs and glasses, reuse glass jars by filling with your favorite holiday cookie ingredients..the ideas are endless.

Recycle

1. Choose sustainability – give gifts made from sustainable and recycled materials. Do your research to find out what companies your supporting and in return will support our planet.
2. Make recycling easy by placing recycling bins beside your trash bins at home and at work.
3. Wrapping and packaging - Cardboard and paper in blue bags and Styrofoam goes to the Eco Centre.