As Christmas is upon us millions around the United Kingdom will be waking up to presents underneath the tree and houses full of family and friends. While Christmas is a time to enjoy loved ones it can also be a time to remember the environment, as Christmas is one of the most wasteful days of the year. What started as quaint holiday traditions have turned into acts of pure waste which pollute the environment and create carbon emissions. Some local councils around the United Kingdom are doing their part to remind people of ways that they can enjoy the holiday without all of the waste. Worcestershire Council has started an innovative scheme to increase awareness about waste and to offer some alternative options for wasteful holiday traditions.
One of the biggest wastes during the holidays comes from the gifts themselves, many of which are wrapped in low grade paper that cannot be recycled. Much of this paper contains metallic materials and even plastic which makes it impossible to recycle. An alternate suggestion would be to use Furoshiki, which is a Japanese method of using recycled materials to wrap presents. The council suggested its residents could also send e-cards instead of paper cards, and reminded them that Christmas trees can also be recycled. Around two hundred and fifty tonnes of trees are tossed after Christmas in the United Kingdom alone, making it doubly wasteful as it also removes a tree from the environment.
Jars which are used to hold holiday treats should also be re-used or recycled as over thirteen thousand tonnes of jars are thrown away just during the holidays.
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