Madison Park

Holiday Tips from Solid Waste Services

Save on waste!

Getting the perfect gift, finding the perfect wrapping, creating the perfect holiday atmosphere can make the holidays a stressful time. It doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips to help you get the perfect gift, find the perfect presentation and create the perfect experience for your family and friends this holiday season. Added benefits: You are also using less stuff and reducing waste at the same time!



§ Tip 1 – Bring a bit of nostalgia back this holiday season by shopping for gifts at antique stores, estate sales or flea markets.



§ Tip 2 – Start a savings account or give stock and bonds for the kids in your life. It’s fin to watch money grow and it teaches children the value of a dollar…and gives them an edge in financial conversations.



§ Tip 3 – Take your family on holiday getaway without leaving town. Pretend you are a tourist visiting your own town. Call AAA, your Chamber of Commerce and visit www.charmeck.org to find attractions you have taken for granted or never visited. By staying at home this holiday season you will:

· Reduce the amount of gas used during a heavy travel time.

· Help keep your local economy strong, making for a vital and thriving downtown- a key to reducing suburban sprawl and related problems of habitat destruction, including loss of biodiveresity.



§ Tip 4 – Give gifts that don’t have to be wrapped at all: tickets to concerts, museums, or sporting events; gift certificates; house plants; or even gifts of your own time.



§ Tip 5 – Don’t wrap the gifts that you do give; make gift-giving an adventure on Christmas day. Instead of wrapping gifts for the kids, hide the presents, plant clues to where they’re hidden and make the kids’ search into a treasure hunt. If you must wrap gifts make the wrap part of the gift. Examples: Putting cookies in a flower pot or hiding jewelry in a new pair of gloves.



Information taken from http://www.use-less-stuff.com/ULSDAY/42ways.html and brought to you by the City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services’ CURB IT program. For more information on CURB IT! go to http://curbit.charmeck.org.