Here it is – the completed Holiday Tree filled with ornaments made from recycled and reused products. There’s even a lovely snowy background for the photo.
Although it is time for the Recycled Holiday Tree Challenge to be done, the important message persists that we should be responsible for the things we use and dispose of in our every day life.
Every year I walk the seasonal aisles during the holidays and have been utterly amazed by the limitless quantity of ornaments and holiday decorations available – it is certainly a billion dollar industry. All these products use resources. What happens when a consumer is tired of a particular ornament or decoration? Mostly it ends up in the landfill – where the resources used to create the beautiful items end up going to waste.
As a reminder, the United States is running out of landfill space. Every inch is jam-packed full of garbage, and most of that garbage is re-usable or recyclable. Saving an inch – saving a centimeter – can make way for trash that is not reusable.
It is time we started thinking of ways to prevent the waste. Next time you have a holiday ornament that you no longer want, do not throw it in the landfill. Instead, donate it to friends, family, or an organization like goodwill or a resale shop. Give it a try – make a holiday difference for the environment.
Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com
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