The Environment Section of Limerick County Council is urging householders to think green and spare a thought for the environment this Christmas.The local authority today launched its annual Green Christmas Campaign, which features a advice on how people across County Limerick can reduce, reuse and recycle waste during the festive period.
Pre-Christmas tips include sending E-cards to cut down on packaging, wrapping presents with recycled paper, turning Christmas lights off overnight and pooling Christmas shopping into fewer bags. Shoppers are also encouraged to support local and “Fair Trade” producers. After Christmas, householders are advised to recycle all packaging, and take empty bottles and tins to one of Limerick’s many bring banks.
According to Mary Killeen Fitzgerald, Administrative Officer, Environment Section, Limerick County Council: “We all needlessly produce extra waste over the Christmas period. The coming festive period provides us all with an ideal opportunity to redress our waste habits by focusing on this year’s Christmas Campaign theme Of ‘Reduce Reuse Recycle’.”
She added, “There are many ways to keep the festive season fun while at the same time caring for our environment. We would urge people to reduce, reuse, recycle as much as possible.”
Top Ten Tips to Reduce Your Waste this Christmas:
1) Make a list and check it twice! Buy only what you need!
2) Cool cards – Send an e card, make your own unique one that won’t be forgotten!
3) Simple, stylish presents - Buy an eco-gift, voucher or charity gift to avoid unwanted gifts that will only end up as clutter. Shop local and/or look out for fair-trade gifts. If you’re “broke”, make a gift of your time!
4) Get Christmas wrapped up - Try alternative wrapping by buying recycled paper or making your own.
5) Do durable - Use reusable plates, cups and bags rather than throw away items. Buy loose vegetables, fruit, meat and cheese.
6) REUSE – give another life to all those nice gift bags and boxes you received during the year and make your gifts look even more impressive! Set up a REUSE box. Keep things like biscuit tins, boxes and ribbon that you can reuse during the year. Keep your favourite cards to make your funky personalised gift cards next year or to keep the kids busy on those wet winter evenings.
7) Start composting all those fruit and vegetable peelings, and you could reduce your bin weight by one third! Compost bins are available from the County Council or local hardware stores.
8) Save your Energy - Invest in LED Christmas lights and battery chargers with rechargeable batteries for all those games. It will save you money in the long run. Recycle any used batteries at your local Recycling Centre or any retail outlet that sells batteries.
9) Get organised in the kitchen! Set up three bins in the kitchen - for recyclables, compostable and general waste.
10) During the party season - Recycle everything you can in your opti-bag or recycling bin - cardboard, gift wrap, greetings cards & envelopes, paper & plastic packaging, drink & food cans, biscuit tins, metal lids, juice cartons, plastic bottles & packaging. Remember to wash n’ squash!
For further information on the 2009 Green Christmas campaign, contact Limerick County Council on (061) 496264 or see: www.lcc.ie/environment and www.limerickrecyclingcentres.ie.
IMAGE: Dreaming Of A Green Christmas - Councillor David Naughton, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council and Benny Bee, Limerick County Council's anti-litter character, announce details of the local authority's 2009 Christmas Anti-Litter campaign. Also pictured are (L R) Gretta Purcell and Siobhan Hanley, both Assistant Staff Officers in the Council's Environment section.
