Don't Trash The Holiday!
'Tis the season of gifting and giving, feasting and fun! However, the annual holiday season also comes with a generous helping of waste. Studies show that between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the amount of trash produced in the United States increases by an estimated 25%! That’s about one million extra tons of garbage each week. Annually, Americans discard an estimated:
- 38,000 miles of ribbon, or enough to wrap around the planet (with some left for a bow);
- $11 billion worth of packing material;
- And 15 million used Christmas trees.
Here are a few tips on eliminating holiday waste:
- Give experiences, not stuff (tickets to a performance, season pass to Vermont State Parks, etc.)
- Send e-cards, not paper cards
- Unwrap gift wrapping carefully and reuse next season
- Use newspaper or brown paper bags as gift wrapping instead!
- Compost your Christmas tree and other organic holiday decorations.
- Be sure non-working electrical decorations are disposed of properly and do not end up in the trash.
New Dream and NEEF are two organizations that can save time, money and resources this holiday season.
Cheers to a wonderful and sustainable holiday!
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CLOSED LOOP RECYCLING
The shredded paper from UVM is recycle it back into the napkins, tissues, toilet paper and paper towels we use on campus! Learn more about this "closed loop" program here and in the video below.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Some high-profile environmentalists visited this semester! If you missed the talks by Bill McKibben, Michael Mann or Andrew Revkin, check out the links to catch up!
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In this 2-minute video, learn how shredded paper collected from UVM offices is coming back to campus in the form of tissue products. This closed loop recycling process is a unique partnership between UVM Recycling & Zero Waste, Custodial Services and private vendors.
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DON'T BUY INTEROFFICE MAILERS
Instead, "order" them from Print & Mail Center by emailing lmander1@uvm.edu with how many you'd like and she'll send them to your office. They'll also take your extras. Just bundle them with a note and put them in campus mail.
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TANGIBLE TRANSPORTATION TIPS
The Burlington chapter of the Sierra Club group, Ready for 100, created a localized sustainable transportation action list. Where could you reduce your transportation footprint?
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WINTER FARMERS MARKETS
Burlington's market has moved to its winter location at the Davis Center. The biweekly Saturday event features local farmers and vendors and parking is free. Click here for dates and details.
When you attend, look for info cards on how to eat local all winter long. When you take a photo of one of these cards and share on social media, tagging the farmer or market and #buydirect2020, you will get entered into a drawing to win a prize!
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FLEET VEHICLE PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE IMPLEMENTED
When replacing or purchasing new vehicles, UVM’s Fleet Vehicle Procurement Procedure aims to educate departments on more sustainable methods of transportation and the availability of alternative fuel vehicles with the goal of achieving a high level of fiscal, social, and environmental responsibility. Read more about the new, University-wide operating procedure on the TPS website.
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The H. Laurence Achilles Natural Area at Shelburne Pond consists of over one thousand acres of upland and wetlands in the town of Shelburne. It is located along the shores of Shelburne Pond, the largest undeveloped body of water in the Champlain Valley. The walking trails at Shelburne Pond run through a forest with rich, calcareous soils and are home to a variety of trees such as sugar maple, ash, hemlock, and others. White cedar trees inhabit the rocky shoreline and many types of ferns are known to exist here. Numerous rocky outcrops along the trail make Shelburne Pond a popular location for fishing.
Please park away from the shore in the designated parking area. The trailhead is located to the left of the boat launch.
Click here for directions.
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ASK SPROUT 🌱
- grow your knowledge -
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Q: Is it better to get new, efficient holiday lights or keep using the ones I have until they're busted?
A: The Department of Energy estimates that Americans burn 6.6 billion kilowatt-hours annually using holiday lights, enough electricity to power more than 800,000 homes for a year. LED's are 70 percent more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs.
But if yours still have some life left, consider a timer that turns them off at bed time when no one is awake to see their beauty. This is also a good way to be friendly to your animal neighbors. Disrupting the natural cycle of light and dark can be deadly for them!
Taking your lights down after the holidays and not exposing them to unnecessary weathering can help them last longer. When you do get rid of them, they can be recycled - just not in your blue bin! They're accepted as scrap metal (for free!) at all CSWD drop off centers and their copper wire is recycled.
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