Dreaming of a Green Christmas?
November 26, 2019 10:11 AM
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generate 25 percent more waste than usual during the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Waste less this holiday season by using these helpful tips written by various Bureau of Solid Waste Management staff over the years:
- Choose a fresh, Maryland-grown tree this holiday season. Fresh trees look great and smell even better, but did you know that real Christmas trees are also renewable, recyclable and benefit the environment? Be sure to mulch or compost your live Christmas tree at the end of the holiday season. If that’s not possible, Baltimore County may collect and recycle your live Christmas tree. Check the County’s website or your collection schedule for more information.
- Reuse the decorations you already own. If you wish to shop, consider thrift stores and yard sales as a source of new holiday décor, or swap decorations with family and friends. You could also try making decorations from things you already have around the house.
- Limit lighting and conserve energy by using LED bulbs. Put holiday lights on automatic timers.
- Reuse greeting cards as holiday craft supplies, decorations, coasters and gift tags. If you buy new, purchase cards made of 100-percent recycled content, or go paperless and send e-card greetings instead.
- Consider giving an experience, rather than a physical item. Tickets, memberships and lessons all make great gifts.
- Shop local, buy used and make homemade gifts.
- Choose gifts that are refillable or reusable. Avoid disposable single-use items, especially if they cannot be recycled. Plants, flowers or food are great gifts that can minimize waste.
- Donate unwanted items to people who can use them.
- Reuse holiday wrapping paper, tissue paper, gift bags, boxes and bows. Cloth items, such as scarves, bandanas or shawls, can also be used to wrap presents (and become part of the gift, as well).
- Turn down the heat. Wear clothing in layers, use blankets and get active if you feel a chill.
- Hosting a holiday dinner? Use a meal planning tool to help you make just the right amount of food and generate less food waste.
- When hosting parties, use reusable kitchenware, tableware and linens. Offer leftovers to guests, or have a potluck and exchange leftovers to prevent food waste.
- Traveling this holiday season? Reduce fuel costs by driving smart: pack light, change your oil, tighten your fuel cap, check your vehicle’s air filter and tire pressure, drive under 60 MPH, use cruise control and don’t idle. Carpool if possible. Need to travel long distances? Consider taking a train.
Whether you plan to celebrate at home or find yourself traveling to spend it with family and friends, these tips can help you and your loved ones make more cheer and less waste this holiday season.
America Recycles Day 2019
November 26, 2019 10:01 AM
By Jeanette Garcia Polasky, Department of Public Works
Baltimore County thanks you for recycling! In 2018, Baltimore County residents set out more than 52,500 tons of material for recycling. On America Recycles Day 2019, which was observed on November 15, the Bureau of Solid Waste Management asked residents to celebrate by doing one or more of the following:
- “Recycle Right”: Review the list of accepted recyclables. Watch our 90-second, multi-award-winning recycling PSA, "Tangled Up!”
- Drop clean, dry plastic shopping bags off at a nearby retailer for recycling. Locations can be found at ABagsLife.com and PlasticFilmRecycling.org.
- Take household hazardous waste, electronics and other items we don't accept at the curb to a Baltimore County drop-off center.
- Use the County’s 2019-2020 Reuse Directory to find places that will accept hard-to-recycle items such as building materials, eyeglasses and packaging materials.
- Get answers to recycling FAQs in a recent post on The Resource blog, “Questions from the Road.”
- Watch our most recent video, “Kat & Nat,” to learn about recycling for bed and bath products.
- Request a free tour of Baltimore County’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
- Visit AmericaRecyclesDay.org/Pledge and take the “Be Recycled” Pledge!