This Christmas season, Clare shoppers will use 500 thousand metres of wrapping paper – enough to travel across the county more than 7 times.That is according to Clare County Council, which today launched its annual Green Christmas campaign to urge householders to consider the environment this year while enjoying all the seasonal festivities. Entitled “Caring for Clare’s Environment – Make It Your New Year’s Resolution”, the campaign features twelve environmental tips, one for each of the days of Christmas.
Pre-Christmas tips from the Local Authority include buying presents that do not require excessive packaging, wrapping presents with recycled paper, sending festive e-cards to cut down on packaging, supporting local and fair trade producers, recycling shopping bags and composting food waste. Householders are also being urged to recycle all packaging, and take empty bottles and tins to one of Clare’s many bring banks.
Mayor of Clare, Councillor Madeleine Taylor Quinn explained that there are many ways in which the public can help protect the environment this Christmas.
The Mayor added, “Each Christmas we see a huge increase in activity at Clare County Council’s recycling facilities and bring banks, which is testament to the public’s heightened awareness of the importance of protecting the environment around them. This year I would appeal to everyone to take heed of the ‘green’ tips to help reduce the amount of waste we produce. Together we can help keep the County ‘green’ during the Christmas period and, by doing so, develop a greater understanding of the importance of recycling and reducing waste.”
Councillor Patricia McCarthy, Chairperson of Clare County Council's Environment and Emergency Services and Consumer Protection SPC, noted that one of the main objectives of this year’s campaign is to encourage householders to reduce more of their packaging than ever before. “I am delighted that Clare County Council’s Environment Section is once again issuing important advice to the members of public on how they can minimise the impact of their Christmas on the environment. In previous years the people of Clare have responded excellently and I am confident that they will respond similarly this year,” commented Councillor McCarthy.
12 Tips to Reduce Your Waste this Christmas:
1. Buying Presents – treat someone to an “experience present” such as theatre or concert tickets, evening classes, restaurant vouchers, etc. to cut down on Christmas packaging.
2. More Gift Ideas – other great gift ideas include hand-made Christmas tree decorations, native trees vouchers, solar powered radios and torches, energy saving light bulbs, aid for development work overseas, or a home composter available from Clare County Council for €45.
3. Offset extra miles - give a tree or garden plant as a gift to help offset the extra miles travelled at Christmas.
4. Buy a battery charger - avoid gifts which require batteries, or purchase a battery recharger and rechargeable batteries.
5. Cook your Present! – invite friends over for dinner as a present and prepare a special meal of their favourite foods.
6. E-Cards – Why not send a festive e-card instead of a paper one, or make your own from paper and textile scraps you find around the house.
7. Alternative wrapping – Try alternative wrappings like newspaper, old material and string or ribbon that can be reused. Or consider gift bags as they can be reused over and over.
8. Shopping Bags – Bring your own reusable bags when shopping. Say no to plastic bags.
9. Make a List! – Make a shopping list so you’re not tempted to buy things you don’t really need or want.
10. Low food air-miles - Shop for locally produced food or fair trade labels. Challenge yourself to make dinner entirely from locally produced produce.
11. Food for Thought - At least 20% of all the food we buy is thrown out! Visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for inspiring ideas of what to do with leftovers. Feed your composter with any uncooked food waste.
12. Recycle - remember to use your dry recyclable collection provided by your waste collector. You can also use your local bottle bank and/or Recycling Centre.
