With the holiday season comes a lot of waste — including discarded food at Thanksgiving or holiday parties and extra trash from package deliveries, boxes and wrapping paper.
According to Wake County, Americans throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
That’s why government officials are sharing the following tips to help reduce waste.
3. Bring reusable shopping bags to grocery stores, farmers markets and retail stores to reduce the number of plastic bags you use.
6. Flatten cardboard shipping boxes and remove the tape from letters and packages so you can recycle the paper. Photo paper must be trashed.
8. Recycle Christmas sweaters and clothes you no longer want. Clothes in good condition can be donated to organizations like Goodwill. Do not recycle old sheets, towels or linens, although some shelters may accept these items.
10. Try not to use disposable or single use dishes, napkins, cups and utensils. Most are not biodegrade even if they claim to be.
11. Gift experiences, not items. Tickets to a concert, a spa, or a pottery class are exciting and generate far less waste.