The holiday season is a time for joy, laughter, and memories. However, the holiday season can be one of the most wasteful times… Americans throw away 25% more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday period than any other time of year. According to a Stanford study, this extra waste “amounts to 25 million tons of garbage or about 1 million extra tons per week.” There are a few things we can do to help bring this number down for the upcoming holiday season. 

You can’t have a great holiday feast without doing the grocery shopping for it. When shopping, however, it is important to use reusable bags. If you do end up using plastic bags, they do not belong in your curbside bin. You can bring them to Recycle Utah.

The holiday season is also a time when many are upgrading their electronics, such as phones, TV, appliances, and more. It is important not to throw outdated devices into the trash; they contain toxic substances such as lead and mercury that can harm surrounding environments, wildlife, and even humans if left to degrade in landfills. Rather, bring them to a local recycler who accepts them, such as Recycle Utah! They have a list of acceptable electronic items on their website. 

Overall, sustainability during the holiday season is incredibly important. Considering about 80 percent of what is thrown away during the holidays can be recycled or repurposed, sustainable practices should be on everybody’s mind. 

By Pearson Ehrich