According to the Tennessee Department of Environment
and Conservation...
About 25% more trash is generated between Thanksgiving
and New Years Day than during other times of the year, according to
Partners for Environmental Progress. That's about 1 million more tons of
garbage per week. Helping individuals understand the impact of this extra
waste - increased costs for landfill disposal and a larger demand on our
natural resources - is on the department's wish list this year.
Environment and Conservation is working with our waste
management and recycling partners to reduce personal waste generation
patterns during this festive season. We have compiled a set of practical
actions into "TDEC Tips for a Greener Holiday" and given this list a
prominent place on the department's home page:
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/greenholiday04.pdf
Whether it's creating our own wrapping paper rather
than buying it or taking advantage of our local communities' Christmas
tree mulching program, there are a host of simple steps we can take to
curb waste generation without sacrificing tradition or holiday spirit.
These holiday tips reflect how we can recognize the special people in our
lives and still treat the earth with kindness.
Exercising a touch of creativity to produce a greener
holiday today will leave a more sustainable world tomorrow.
Feel free to share these "Tips" and the website link
with others. I hope your holiday is both green and blessed.
Red
River Watershed Association