Environmental Scrooges

Humbug!  Only the most hardcore Scrooges would ever seriously utter those infamous words.  Christmas, after all, is one of those things that should conjure up warm, happy feelings.  Just as it is hard for most of us to imagine that anyone could be as miserable as Ebenezer Scrooge, it is similarly difficult to understand why anyone would be opposed to sensible environmental practices.  Yet Scrooge's annoyance over Christmas shares some common threads with those cynical about environmental stewardship.

Like Scrooge's feelings about Christmas, some are bothered by the perceived inconvenience or difficulty of being green.  Even if they get beyond those struggles, doubts can arise making us wonder if our individual actions really make a difference.  These Environmental Ebenezers are not likely to be visited by the three spirits of the Environment, the way Scrooge was visited by the ghosts of Christmas, but the secret to their conversion is similar.  The visits from Christmas Past, Present and Future helped Scrooge to connect dots he had never even seen before.  We need to raise awareness about the environmental issues and then provide an easier way to address them, too.

Especially as the holiday season approaches, we might be able to push a few of our friends and family a little closer to the environmental ideal the same way the ghosts nudged Scrooge toward the spirit of Christmas.  Just as Scrooge came to realize that it was not difficult to be charitable and pleasant, we can help others realize that being less wasteful is not inconvenient.  It does not make the holiday any less enjoyable, and it may even make you feel good that you have done something beneficial for the planet and your community.  Here are few ways:

1. Reduce party waste.  Cut back on the disposable items at your holiday get-togethers.  If you can, compost the food waste and paper plates.
2. Recycle your bottles and cans.  Every one of your bottles and cans are recyclable in our local curbside recycling program.  Put a recycling bin in a convenient place so everyone can find it and use it.
3. Use reusable packaging for gifts.  Reusable gift bags, boxes or tins are great options for gifts and make no trash.  When the bags come to end of the useful life, the paper ones can be recycled.
4. Don't trash or burn your boxes.  Remember that heavy cardboard and thinner paperboard gift boxes are all recyclable both at the curbside and at the drop-offs around the county. 
5. Look at your trash.  If you see boxes stuffed full of foam packaging and plastic you have turned recyclable stuff into trash.  Empty those boxes and flatten them for recycling.  Both your boxes and paper (but not the foil) wrapping can be recycled with your mixed paper at the curbside.  Be sure to flatten boxes and dispose of polystyrene packing materials and the ribbons. 

The preparation will take a few minutes but will result in much less trash.  This would make even Scrooge happy!