Some tips for steering your home toward less waste this holiday season
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Did you know that, in Puerto Rico, only about 7% of waste is recycled? And although the sale of single-use utensils was recently banned, you may be surprised to learn that 35% of our waste is organic, meaning biodegradable material that comes from plants or animals.
How much waste is generated during a Puerto Rican Christmas is not known, but in other places, according to Waste Action and Ecologistas en Acción, solid waste generation has been estimated to increase between 25% and 30% during the holiday season.
Given that, this time of year is a good opportunity to do your part.
We share eight tips for reducing your waste this Christmas, drawn from an interview with María Ocasio Torres, executive director of Scuba Dogs Society.
1. Consider an artificial tree
Many people will say that the smell of a natural pine tree is irreplaceable, but disposing of these trees responsibly is a challenge. Instead of buying a tree every year, consider buying an artificial tree. On average, these trees can hold their appearance for 6 to 10 years, producing less waste and saving you money.
If you already have a natural one, remember to recycle your tree through the municipal and Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales initiatives organized in January.
2. Reuse gift wrap
Don't throw away bags, packaging and paper that are still in good condition. Reusing them reduces your waste, saves money, and spares you a last-minute shopping trip. You can even reuse gift bags or repurpose packaging from things you've already bought.
"It's about working with what you already have. First with what you have at home, to see what you can do, before going out to buy anything," the sustainability educator explained.
3. Swap ornaments to give your tree and home a new look
Say your ornaments are in good condition but you want a different look for your tree. Instead of buying new ones, you could swap yours with a family member's or friend's, so both of you can display a different tree in the living room.
To cut down on consumption, you can also buy used ornaments in good condition by checking out secondhand stores. For the holiday season, these stores tend to put out their inventory of ornaments and seasonal items. You may be surprised by what you find.
4. Avoid single-use plastics
If you're hosting a gathering or party with food, always use plates and utensils that can be washed and reused. If guests are bringing appetizers to the party, ask them to bring them in reusable containers. Avoid single-use plastics as much as possible.
If non-reusable materials do get used, set aside several bags so you can separate recyclables, and locate collection centers. In Puerto Rico, the most commonly recycled materials are No. 1 and No. 2 plastics, corrugated cardboard and unlaminated paper, and aluminum.
5. Plan your party food carefully
Before buying the ingredients for your favorite recipes, Ocasio Torres recommended these steps to reduce leftovers:
Confirm how many people will be at your gathering.
Ask what kinds of food and drinks they enjoy.
Buy ingredients based on your guests' preferences.
Prepare just enough to feed everyone.
Think ahead about what to do with leftovers, whether that means sharing them with guests, saving them to eat during the week, using them in other dishes, or donating them.
6. Compost instead of throwing away
If you followed the steps above and still had food left over that went bad, consider composting the organic waste. The compost you produce will be very nutritious for your garden or home vegetable patch.
If you don't have space for a compost bin, though, you can contact Tais's organic waste collection service, which turns that material into compost for local farmers. You can also drop off organic waste for composting at Huerto Semilla in Río Piedras and Vivo Recycling in Caguas.
7. Rethink your consumption: Give an experience!
Above all, Ocasio Torres stressed that we should rethink the way we buy and give gifts. In this case, ask yourself:
Why do I want to give this?
Does the person actually need what I'm about to buy?
Will they use it more than once? Will they throw it away afterward?
Instead, she proposed the value of giving an experience. A gift is always appreciated, but sometimes a loved one values a good memory of a shared moment even more. Puerto Rico is full of one-of-a-kind experiences that could be the perfect gift for a family member, friend or partner.
"Giving moments: a dinner, a day at the beach, in the forest, in nature, is so much nicer, and you remember it more than a product you maybe use once and throw in the trash," she said.
8. Shop consciously and locally
Finally, if you want to give a small gift, consider buying from a local brand or business. That way, your money will contribute to the local economy and support the well-being of Puerto Rican entrepreneurs. Remember to shop with awareness and care.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
