The holiday season always seems to generate extra packaging, filled waste baskets and a strain on our budget. How can we save money, not incur additional charges on our garbage bill and still enjoy the holidays? Remember, not everything can be recycled and our recycling program could suffer because of illegal and unwanted dumping like the television sets someone dumped into a rural recycling box. Lets identify where we can make changes before we start shopping and planning holiday events.

Will you remember to bring your re-usable cloth bags when you go shopping this holiday season? If you don’t, there will be many plastic bags accumulated. Also, the cloth bag may do a better job protecting your purchases. Giving a really nice re-useable shopping bag may be a good gift idea.

When the house is full of people and guests are bringing food and beverages, you may end up with a lot of non-recyclable/garbage items. If you have not yet planned your part in the festivities, there will be even more trash. Staying away from plastic eating utensils, paper plates and disposable drink cups will significantly reduce waste. Sending food home with guests can be accomplished by re-using the plastic containers the food came in when purchased. At least it was re-used rather than a single use and then thrown into the trash. Washing dishes sounds bad, but the energy consumed to manufacture disposable plastic utensils and then throw them in the trash comes at a much higher cost.

A review of articles I have written in the past few years about environmentally friendly holiday giving is in order. Often we do not plan well or think a purchase through and end up with unnecessary garbage. If we refrain from making poor purchases, reducing waste becomes easier.

Did you realize that gift wrapping paper can be recycled? So can the cards and envelopes and don’t worry about the tape or windowed envelopes. Not all counties in Minnesota will accept gift wrapping paper but we do. Freeborn County has been on an initiative to increase paper recycling for a couple of years. Our motto has been “we want all paper/fibre materials unless it came from the refrigerator or freezer.” In other words, recycle all paper that does not have that waxy finish. This includes shoe boxes, corrugated, the shiny inserts in the newspaper, junk mail, etc.

Many of the recycling and environmental web sites list good ideas for giving during the holidays such as coupons for snow shoveling, lawn mowing, theater tickets, or a cash card from a local merchant. People who live in apartments or small homes don’t always appreciate more trinkets that collect dust and may put more value on a personalized photo, family photo or cash card to purchase an item of their choosing. Some may appreciate a ride to the store to shop for holiday gifts or to the grocery store so they can purchase larger items with your help to get them home.

Believe it or not, winter may also be a good time to start that composting project. You don’t have to purchase special or expensive equipment and it’s easy. Find a pail of any size and drill numerous holes in the bottom and lower sides. Put the pail outdoors and fill it with banana peels, apple peelings and cores, coffee grounds and filters, spoiled fruit and vines, egg shells and vegetable waste. Do not compost orange or grapefruit peelings because they are too acidic. Also do not put any meat or dairy products into the compost. This may attract rodents and odors and does not compost well. It will reduce your trash volume significantly while producing some very valuable garden and flower pot soil for next spring. Have a merry Christmas.

Randy Tuchtenhagen is the solid waste officer for Freeborn County.