Welcome Decem-brrr!
Happy Holidays to one and all! This December, give a gift to future generations by being earth-conscious during your holiday celebrations. Waste Not, Want Not is here to help.
It’s that time of year again…from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, Americans produce on average 25% more trash. Oops! Here’s how you can make sure everybody has fun while keeping your excess stuff off the naughty list—or even turning it into treasure!
Sunday, December 10 is the Trashy Holiday Market, where a variety of eco-conscious vendors sell quirky, one-of-kind upcycled gifts! Plus, one of the sponsors of the event is Patagonia x Worn Wear, which specializes in trading and mending Patagonia® gear, so if you have something that needs fixing or you want to trade it in, here’s your chance!
The Trashy Holiday Market is one of Chicago’s wonderfully many options when it comes to buying sustainably produced items. Visit the Chicago Artisans’ Market or the Chicago Fair Trade Pop-Up Shop to see more. Holidays are also a great excuse to explore Chicago’s selection of thrift shops.
Of course, some of the best gifts aren’t material at all. Gifts of experience are some of the most precious gifts of all—make memories by giving your loved ones tickets to a sports match, theater, or concert, a museum or gym membership, or cooking classes. The Museum of Science and Industry is hosting the high-tech Blue Paradox exhibit about the plastics crisis, showcasing the oceans’ beauty while educating visitors about our environmental crisis.
Gifts of service can be the most appreciated. Whether that means making gifts by hand or taking on that dreadful task somebody has been procrastinating (like cleaning out the closet), you don’t always need to look outside the home to find a way to brighten a special somebody’s life.
This is also a time of year when you might need to dispose of old items you’ve now replaced—for example, old electronics. Luckily, the City of Chicago offers electronics recycling, so don’t throw your old cellphone out! Old electronics contain valuable minerals that make them well-worth recycling.
For tips on how to wrap your gifts and decorate your house sustainably, check out last year’s Holidays Waste Not, Want Not. For tips on how to reduce food waste during festive meals, read our Thanksgiving WNWN.
The City of Chicago also runs a tree composting program in January, so if you have any trees or wreaths in your house, plan on composting them!
Email us at environment@lwvchicago.org for more information or to join the Environmental Action Committee.