Be conscious of waste during the holiday season
This is the opinion of Taylor Barber, CSB junior.
The holidays are fast approaching, and there are many things on our minds. All that food we ate over Thanksgiving break, getting gifts for friends and family and putting up lights in our trees and on our houses.
One thing we probably aren’t thinking about—how much waste we are producing. According to an article done by CNN, American households alone produce 25% more waste than normal between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. Overall, that adds up to about one million tons of extra trash that includes things from food waste to wrapping paper to old Christmas trees.
It’s the season of giving, but it’s also the season of time and appreciation together. Consider some options that not only allow time with loved ones but also helps practice sustainable action. For example, my favorite holiday thing to do is have a book trade with family. We gather together, whip up a cup of hot cocoa or tea and share some of our favorite novels together under the candle light.
Not a reader? The idea can be applied to so many things. Going for a family walk, sharing crafts that you made with items you have or making food together as a family. There are so many options that are out there to have a happy holiday time without the excessive buying and wasting that comes with the season.
There’s no shame in getting that special gift for your loved ones—the goal is not to dim your spirits but to provide ideas and options that can benefit everyone and the planet at the same time. Wishing everyone a successful end to the semester and a happy holidays.