PHILADELPHIA – December 13, 2023: EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Administrator Adam Ortiz is offering reminders and tips on how to reduce waste and keep holiday celebrations as sustainable as possible.
“This is the best time of year to get back to the basics: reduce, reuse, and recycle,“ said Ortiz. “Regardless of what – or how – you may celebrate, a few simple things can help keep your holiday season a little greener, cleaner, and safer.”
With more people traveling for the holidays, fossil fuel powered transportation can create harmful emissions and poor air quality across the region. Ortiz encourages those traveling on busy roads or highways to try to plan outdoor activities for off-peak travel hours or non-holiday travel days. Whenever possible, try to use mass transit or carpool with relatives or friends.
Gift Giving and Wrapping
Whether shopping in person or online, there are several ways to reduce impact. Bringing reusable bags on shopping trips, opting out of gift boxes, and choosing wrapping paper that’s easily recycled are all ways to make smart shopping choices this time of year. Consider gifting experiences or activities over tangible items. Choose gift bags or wrap in fabric or recycled newspaper when possible. And lastly, if shopping online, combine mailings to reduce shipping resources when able.
“There are plenty of ways we can each do our part, not only during the holiday season, but all year,” reminds Ortiz. “Like all good habits, these little actions certainly add up over time for a bigger impact on the environment.”
Healthy Air Quality During the Holidays
Smoke from wood stoves and outdoor fire pits can create poor air quality that can hurt your health. Before roasting chestnuts over an open fire, Ortiz recommends that people ensure there is plenty of fresh air or adequate ventilation in indoor or outdoor cooking areas. “If you’re hosting large gatherings or overnight visitors, be sure to check and replace your indoor air filters or consider purchasing an indoor air purifier for rooms used for sleeping or gathering,” said Ortiz. “You can always check your local air quality at https://www.airnow.gov/.”
Reducing Holiday Waste
Store food leftovers in reusable containers or freeze them if you don’t think they’ll get eaten right away. Use gift wrapping paper or bags that can be recycled. Swap paper for reusable cloth or decorate with old newspaper as giftwrap instead. Avoid wrapping papers with plastic coatings, ribbons, or glitter – these materials use more resource to manufacture and are not typically recyclable.