With momentum building on the ‘war on waste’, Ballarat environmental advocates are reminding families to reduce, reuse and recycle this festive season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is predicted waste increases by around 30 per cent at Christmas time, but many are calling for a change to the culture of excess by encouraging alternative ways of thinking about the main festive waste culprits; food, wrapping paper, packaging and gifts.
I don’t want to be a Grinch at Christmas, I just think people need to think you don’t have to have lots of presents and enough food to feed a small African nation at the table to have a good time.
- La Vergne Lehmann, GCWWRRG
Donna McMaster, a member of the No Waste Ballarat movement, says reducing waste should be at the forefront of decision making throughout the entire year, but could tend to be forgotten at Christmas.
“Our shopping habits are accelerated at this time of the year, people are rushed and have lots of pressure to get something to give to people. I can see how people put the sustainable cap on the backburner at this time of year,” she said.
Top sustainable Christmas tips
- Buy from op shops or support products made from recycled materials
- Buy a present that is an experience, like a dinner or a trip to the zoo or an experience you create yourself.
- Make a present like a cake, preserves, or cookies in a jar. Other ideas: photos with stories, plants, fruit trees, herb pots, decorated jars or pots.
- Avoid items packaged with plastic when buying gifts. Take your reusable shopping bags when gift shopping.
- Think of the life of a gift: choose something that will last a long time rather than break in 12 months.
- Reuse the packaging presents come in by decorating boxes with kids paintings, or colourful hand prints on newspaper. Wrap presents in a cloth or a carrier bag, tea towel, newspaper or toilet paper wrapping.
- Serve up less food of a better quality from local producers. Share leftovers with family and friends in containers rather than plastic wrap or use them in different recipes.
- Skip throwaway plastic cutlery and plates.
Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group (GCWWRRC) is running its Wastemas campaign, sharing waste reduction tips to keep sustainability at the forefront of people’s thinking this festive season.
Chief executive La Vergne Lehmann said there was still time to think about the type of Christmas you want to have.
GIFT GIVING
Australians collectively spend around $11 billion a year on Christmas gifts, according to the Commonwealth Bank Christmas Consumer Spending 2017 Study.
“We want people to think more about the traditional value of Christmas, not just about buying stuff that is often cheap plastic stuff. It is about spending time with family and celebrating year past,” Ms Lehmann said.
GCWWRRC is promoting its Christmas gift initiative kindness card for the gift that keeps on giving, by offering to clean the car, vacuum the house, make a real cup of tea, watch the footy and other things to spend time with your gift recipient.
Ms McMaster recommends buying recycled from op shops or supporting products that have been made from recycled materials, buying a present that is an experience, or giving a handmade gift.
Ballarat Community Men’s Shed members have been busy making gifts from recycled wood for their family members.
One member has made about 20 chopping boards for almost every member of his family. There are also shops in Ballarat that sell handmade gifts, like Tilly Mint sells handmade children’s toys without all the usual plastic wrapping.
WRAPPING IDEAS
Australians use more than 150,000km of wrapping paper during Christmas – enough to wrap around Earth’s equator nearly four times, according to Medianet.
Ballarat resident Angie Molloy wraps her gifts in newspaper with ribbon at Christmas, while others use reusable cloth, reusable fabric bags or toilet paper wrappers. You could even cover cardboard boxes in kids drawings or coloured handprints.
FOOD WASTE
More than 90 per cent of Australians usually discard more than 25 per cent of their food during the festive period, data shows.
GCWWRRC has published recipes ideas for leftover Christmas food on their website, but encourages families to serve up less but better quality locally sourced food. If you have friends or family joining for meals, send them home with their own container of leftovers to enjoy, Ms Lehmann said.
Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
