How to have an eco-friendly end of year break

It’s confronting to think about, but the amount of waste a household produces can actually double during the Christmas/New Year period.

Unfortunately, most of it is plastic – from shiny wrapping paper to fake Christmas trees, baubles and decorations – not to mention all the extra plastic packaging on our shopping! And we all know the problem with plastic is that most of it never fully disappears; it just breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces and persists in the environment for centuries.

Being environmentally conscious over the holidays is really about keeping up the good habits we’re getting into more generally. It’s about remembering our impact on the environment, and not letting things slide just because you’re on holidays..

1. WHAT YOU WEAR

Consider carefully – do you need a NEW outfit for that Christmas party? And another for NYE? Why not buy preloved – or  rent an amazing outfit for that special occasion? Australians buy on average 56 new items, every year, making Australia the second highest consumer of textiles per person in the world, after the USA. Each Australian disposes an average 23 kilograms of clothing to landfill each year.

2. WHAT ABOUT THE TREE?

The most environmentally friendly Christmas tree is one with roots, which lives in a pot in your garden and can be brought in again next year. Fresh trees are an eco-friendlier choice to plastic trees, particularly if they’re composted at the end of their lives. Check if your council has a special Christmas tree collection in the new year, or if they can be dropped at waste-transfer stations.

But if you already have a plastic tree, keep using it! Don’t throw it out to buy a real one. And if you decide a real tree is not feasible, consider buying your fake one second-hand. This means less resources go into making new ones and helps divert waste from landfill. You can find them on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, or in local charity shops. If you are investing in a new one, make sure it’s a good quality one that’s going to last you at least ten years.

3. REDUCING FOOD WASTE...

One big issue that’s often forgotten about over the holidays is food waste, which not only hurts your wallet, but also the environment. It’s really important to keep uneaten scraps out of our garbage bins because when food ends up in landfill it produces methane, a particularly harmful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

The best thing is to plan ahead and think about who you’re cooking for and what they will be eating, write a shopping list, store food correctly and then re-use leftovers. If you haven’t got a compost, it’s the perfect time to start one up! It’s much easier than you think and there are super stylish little units that can sit on your kitchen bench or under the sink – with no fuss and no odours!

4. PRESENTING....

Research shows experiential gifts contribute more to happiness than material items, so let’s give stocking stuffers, cheap novelty trinkets and gag gifts the flick and instead buy tickets to the theatre, a gig, the movies or a sports game. Or vouchers for a spa, a restaurant, a high tea, or even mini golf, go-karting or whale watching - the options are endless!

5. WRAP IT UP...

Get creative with your wrapping! Steer clear of anything shiny or foil-backed or decorated with glitter, which can’t be recycled. Could you wrap presents in a scarf or tea towel and make that part of the gift? Or use old newspapers, magazines, or reuse wrapping paper and gift bags you already have?

6. RECYCLING RIGHT....

Recycling is confusing! Specially when you're on holidays - cos what you can recycle at home isn't necessarily what you recycle when you're staying with the rellies. But luckily there’s now an app to keep us all up to date – it’s called RECYCLE MATE. It’s free to download and you just take a photo or type the name of an item you would like to know more about, and it gives you disposal advice specific to your location – whether you’re at home or on holidays. It covers all areas of Australia and provides info on how to recycle everything from blisterpacks to running shoes and old electrical devices. 

Inspire your family and friends to help make a change by sharing your pledge on social media and tagging @CleanUpAustralia #StepUptoCleanUp or email your pic to cleanup@cleanup.com.au so we can add it to our website!