Trim Waste this Holiday Season

Blog by Julie Urlaub, Founder and Managing Partner at Taiga Company
Nov 25, 2010 2:16 PM ET

Taiga Company blog by Julie Urlaub, Founder and Managing Partner at Taiga Compa…

According to the EPA, household waste jumps an astounding 25 percent between Thanksgiving and the New Year.  For those living a sustainable lifestyle, the trick to a successful holiday season is knowing how to enjoy the holidays while also minimizing waste.

As a green living consultant, I'm often asked, “What does reducing waste mean?"  When you avoid making garbage in the first place, you eliminate the disposing of waste or recycling it later.  It's the first component of the sustainability concept of the three R's: reduce, reuse, and recycle.    To help you enjoy the holidays and trim your waste, following are eco actions we suggest in our personal sustainability programs:

  • Reduce Food Waste:

  • Pre plan your meals, buy in bulk, and prepare what you need.

  • Compost and turn your old food into healthy soil.

  Reduce with eco decorations:

  • Recycle your Christmas tree! Contact your local recycling office to find out how to recycle your Christmas tree.

  • Reduce the number of lights on your tree as well as those decorating your home. Try to avoid leaving lights on all day. Use them only at night for maximum effect.  

Consider replacing standard holiday lights with strings of LED lights. The benefits of LED lights include energy efficiency, safety, sturdiness and a long life span.   Reduce when you shop and shop with the environment in mind:

  • Purchase products that are returnable, reusable or refillable.  Use reusable and refillable containers in your home instead of disposable items.

  • Purchase products with the least amount of packaging.

  • Get the most out of what you buy by comparing warranties and cost to repair or replace the item.

  • Look for products designed with the environment in mind: click here to continue reading.

 

Home to one third of the earth's trees, the Taiga is the largest land-based biosphere and encircles the globe. Its immense oxygen production literally changes the atmosphere and refreshes the planet. It is this continuous renewal that has shaped Taiga Company's vision to drive similar change in the business world. Taiga Company seeks to be the "oxygen for your business".

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