BE
ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Millville, NJ: The holidays are upon us. Along with the festivities, food,
and gifts, comes an abundance of waste. The Cumberland County Improvement
Authority wants you to celebrate, while making an environmental difference.
The following are some tips on how you can turn your holiday customs into
earth-friendly practices. Make these holiday tips your gift to Mother Nature.
One way to reduce waste is to practice what we call "Green Shopping." Give
a lasting, trash free, gift such as tickets to a movie, concert, theater, or
other special event. Choose toys that use rechargeable batteries and are well
constructed for durability. When possible, buy gift-wrap and cards made from
recycled paper and select items packaged in recyclable materials. Lastly,
give an environmental gift such as memberships or donations to environmental
organizations, a subscription to an environmental magazine, or a book on
environmental topics.
You can also make a difference when wrapping your gifts or planning your
parties. Instead of using wrapping paper, use the Sunday comics, or decorate
brown paper bags, turned inside out, with markers, paints, or stickers for
gift wrapping. Avoid using boxes when possible, or reuse boxes. Use reusable
cloth napkins, tablecloths, washable plates, silverware, and cups instead of
disposable items. Lastly, make your party festive without excessive waste by
decorating with reusable items or natural materials such as evergreens, which
can then be composted later.
After the holidays, remember to contact your local recycling coordinator to
find out how your Christmas tree can be recycled into mulch. Save and reuse
gift boxes and use this year's cards as next year's postcards or gift tags.
From everyone at Cumberland County Improvement Authority, best wishes to you
and your family for a safe and happy holiday season.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
For more information on this press release, please contact Dennis DeMatte,
Jr. at 825-3700.
