www.SanTanSun.com ‘Tis the season to recycle
Between elaborate cardboard and plastic gift packaging, plus wrapping paper, ribbons and bows, the holidays are a time when a lot of trash is created. United Fibers in Chandler reminds SanTan Sun area residents how to have a “green” Christmas with these guidelines: reduce, reuse and recycle.
Start recycling with shopping
Bring your own bags, and for small items, say no bag is needed. If a bag is given, reuse it at home and recycle it afterwards. Ask for paper bags, as paper is 100% recyclable, where plastic bags are not.
Reduce, reuse, recycle gift wrap
Be eco-friendly and buy wrapping paper made from recycled material. It might cost a few cents more, but it’s a small fee for keeping the planet clean.
Look for the highest post-consumer content possible whenever buying goods made from recycled materials. This means that the fewest trees had to be directly cut down for the gift wrap to be made, and according to the EPA, recycled paper generates 74 percent less air pollution and uses 50% less water compared to new paper, during the production process.
Then, when presents are opened, see if the paper can be reused for next year’s gifts.
Not all gift wrap can be recycled. Some may not be acceptable if it is laminated, waxed coated, dyed or covered in glitter. Check with your local recycling authority to see if they will accept wrapping paper.
One way to avoid this concern is to purchase reusable and recyclable gift bags made out of recycled materials. The bags will be used over and over until they can’t be used any more, and then they will be recycled.
Cardboard, shipping materials
Using shipping materials made of recycled materials will have a signifi cant impact. If you’re packing boxes, old newspapers make good fi ller materials, compared with Styrofoam peanuts.
To recycle cardboard boxes you’ve received, check with the local recycling authority fi rst to see if they accept cardboard and how it should be prepared. Or fi nd someone who is moving who could use the boxes.
Holiday card recycling
Buy cards made of recycled paper, and recycle cards whenever possible, using them to make gift tags. Reduce the use of envelopes by sending postcards instead of cards.
Green holiday decorations
Save your holiday decorations for reuse, and whenever possible, use natural ornaments such as pine cones, shells, dried fl owers or berries. Older decorations can be donated to local schools, churches, town offi ces or nonprofi t organizations, or sold in a garage sale.
Recycle Christmas trees
Many communities recycle Christmas trees by chipping and mulching them for compost or landscaping materials. Visit
www.chandleraz.gov/recycle for Chandler’s tree recycling program.
Donate, share food
Leftovers from holiday dinners and parties can be sent home with guests, shared with neighbors or given to a shut-in. Compost fruit and vegetable wastes only, not meat or grease.
For more tips on recycling, reusing and reducing, visit
www.UnitedFibers.com or deliver items for recycling to United Fibers at 390 W. Ray Rd. in Chandler.
Neighbors
Dec. 17, 2011 - Jan. 6, 2012 51
Join us for the Holiday Bash
11 p.m. San Tan Brewery
Jacob’s Well United Methodist Church
www.churchremix.org
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