Crumpled wrapping paper, tinsel and pine needles will soon be strewn about the floor of many Whistlerites' homes, remnants of another holiday season come and gone.
But the waste produced from Christmas joy doesn’t disappear overnight. What if instead of creating waste this holiday season, we re-thought how to celebrate with the environment in mind? The Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) has tips on how to do just that.
Executive director Pegah Pourkarimi explained reducing the impact on the planet over the holidays doesn’t mean we need to bin meaningful connections.
“This is one of my favourite personal topics,” Pourkarimi said. “You can give thoughtful, experience-based gifts. Look at doing things together as opposed to giving something that won’t be used in two months,” she said.
For hosting events and giving gifts, she suggests reusing gift bags and minimizing single-use items. Replacing paper plates and plastic cutlery with re-useable ones is another easy way to cut down on waste.
“Running the dishwasher is better for the environment than the convenience of having single-use items,” she said.
If folks don’t have enough plates to go around their festive table, another option includes a policy of BYOP: bring your own plate.
On planning a waste-free feast, Pourkarimi's also got great suggestions from her background in food production.
“Look at portion sizes so food doesn’t go to waste. Use leftovers creatively, support local and seasonal foods,” she said. “I grew up cooking and have run food businesses for over 12 years now, so I have different base-level knowledge than other people might. What I always tell people who ask is, ‘just have a go of it. Burn a meal or two, recognize what can be adjusted and shifted.’ Search on Google what can be done with turkey and carrot leftovers and go from there.”
For folks celebrating Christmas, she suggested they opt for a living tree. Buying a living tree means you can plant it and watch it grow in years to come, should you have yard space.
If not, there are do-it-yourself methods to creating a Christmas tree from reclaimed wood, driftwood or materials around your house.
“You can use it again each year. Any way we can use what you already have helps," Pourkarimi said. "My family also makes ornaments, collecting natural items. With a bit of string and craft glue we make our ornaments. The kids love it. It gives us an experience together and it becomes their own little treasure over the years.”
Pourkarimi added creating homemade decorations is a way families can incorporate their own climate action plan into holidays, which will likely resonate with youth who are deeply familiar with climate change.
“Most humans just want the opportunity for meaningful engagement, to feel included and be part of something. I really do think that people thrive when time is offered,” she said.
What can you recycle?
Despite our best efforts to reduce consumption and waste, there are still bound to be bits and bobs leftover which need to be appropriately disposed of.
Whistler’s waste depots have you covered.
The Resort Municipality of Whistler has a how-to guide for holiday recycling.
Paper gift wrap (free from tape), paper cups and gift bags, cookie tins, plastic trays, greeting cards, shipping boxes, corrugated cardboard boxes and aluminum foil and foil trays are accepted in multi-family collection rooms or depots.
The Nesters and Function Junction waste depots also accept batteries, Christmas lights and old electronics.
What they can’t accept are toys, padded envelopes, foiled gift wrap or ribbons and bows.
From Dec. 26 to Jan. 13, Nesters and Function Junction waste depots also accept Christmas trees for disposal. Organics are also accepted at Nesters and Function.
