Immediate Release
December 11, 2009
Batavia, Ohio. As we celebrate, decorate, give gifts and travel this holiday season, we also generate a lot of waste and increase our energy use. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the volume of household waste in this country increases 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day; that amounts to around one million extra tons of garbage! “There are some simple things we can all do to green the holiday season,” said Clermont Office of Environmental Quality Director Paul Braasch. “It takes only a small amount of time to reduce, recycle, and reuse materials. This will, in turn, protect our environment.”
Braasch recommends checking to see if the greeting cards, gift wrap, and gift bags you buy are recyclable. “When you go shopping take a reusable bag with you,” he said. “Instead of getting a bunch of little plastic bags, put your purchases into your cloth bag.” The EPA estimates that thousands of plastic and paper bags wind up in landfills each year.
The Web site www.Earth911.com indicates that even gift cards can be recycled, because they are made of PVC plastic that can be turned into new cards. “When you are wrapping presents, consider using items you have around the house, like old maps, posters, even the Sunday comics,” said Braasch, who adds that ribbons and bows should be saved to reuse next year.
If you need to purchase additional lights, consider Energy Star energy efficient lighting. The EPA estimates that these types of lights use 1/50th of the electricity of conventional lights and last up to 30 years! “I’d also recommend putting your lights on a timer or turn them on only when someone is home to conserve power,” said Braasch.
After the holidays, numerous local communities are offering tree recycling opportunities. For a list of participating communities, visit the Web site www.oeq.net. Happy holidays!
Pictured above: Lucinda Chandler and Martha Jane Zeigler demonstrate holiday wrapping and bow making at the Amelia Library
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For additional information about this or other county news, contact Clermont County Communications Director Kathryn Lehr at (513) 732-7597 or by e-mail, klehr@co.clermont.oh.us