Christmas season: the paper mills are having a blast!

Did you know that from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the U.S. produces about 6 million more tons of waste than during the rest of the year? Ouch! Most of that is due to the beautiful array of Christmas cards adorning all of our desks and mantles, and a lot of the rest of it is due to all the presents so nicely wrapped under the tree.

My family is infamous for reusing wrapping paper, thanks to grandparents who knew how to run a tight budget during the Depression. Old habits die hard, and ever since I can remember, we've had a box of old wrapping paper in the basement ready to be used again the next year. We realized we were at the extreme the year my uncle used newspaper and gum to seal up his gifts--you can't recycle much more than that! Although most of this was done for laughs and frugality, these days we have more reasons to try to cut back on paper use as concerns for the environment and energy increase.

So here are some ideas on how to cut back on the 8,000 TONS of paper wasted during the holidays.
Good: If you do buy brand new wrapping paper, buy it made from recycled paper. And use less. Remember, the best gifts come in small boxes, and the first step in the slogan is "REDUCE!"
Better: Of course, the second step in the slogan is to reuse, so bring out your inner schoolchild and get creative with your wrapping! You can do the old trick of wrapping in newspaper or comics, or you can get extra creative. What about wrapping in brown grocery sacks and writing a poem or love letter on the package? Or tear out pages from the phone books that have your recipient's name on them. If they really like a certain type of food, cover the gift in the old takeout menus sitting on top of the fridge! You could even use pages from catalogs--just maybe not the same page that you ordered their gift from!
Best: Use real "green!!!" What better way to become the favorite aunt or uncle than to wrap your presents in dollar bills. It's reusable, people won't rip it to shreds, and it will smooth over any hard feelings that were stirred up during Christmas dinner. (Mom and Dad, are you listening?)

Have a great holiday, and please remember to cut back on your usage this year. The ghosts of Christmas future are counting on you.

Contact The Recycling Revolution for how to start a recycling program in your business, venue, or other facility. Call us at (918) 894-2019 or reach us through email at customerservice@therecyclingrevolution.com.
Our website is true to our name: therecyclingrevolution.com.

Brookside is jumping on the bandwagon!

Yes, Tulsa's hotspot along South Peoria is the next strip to start reducing carbon emissions! This week we welcome The Bruhouse Bar and Grill to our growing number of clients who will be recycling their beer bottles. Way to go, everyone!