Garbage Reduction Tips

Everyday Reduction Tips

 

  • Composting
    • At home composting can significantly reduce the amount of garbage generated.
  • Food Wastes are a significant component of today's residential waste stream. To avoid wasting food and money, consider these practices:
    • take inventory before grocery shopping to avoid buying items you already have; 
    • check the expiry date on perishable foods periodically so they can be used before they become spoiled; 
    • keep a shopping list and buy only what will be eaten by its best before date; and 
    • prepare only as much food as will be eaten or take leftovers for lunch the next day.
  • Limit Non Re-Chargeable Batteries
    • Please try to reduce purchasing of non-rechargeable batteries, and use rechargeable batteries where possible.  Recycling non-rechargeable batteries will cost you or the City, whereas recycling rechargeable batteries does not cost the city any money.
  • Reusable Shopping Bags
    • Remember to bring reusable shopping bags to the grocery store to reduce the amount of plastic bags to be disposed of.
    • Try to only purchase items that are made of or packaged in plastic that can be recycled, such as plastic types #1, #2, #4, and #5, or made of paper or cardboard.
  • Yardwaste
    • One of the most effective ways to reduce waste is by not creating waste in the first place. For example, "grasscycling," i.e., leaving grass clippings on the lawn instead of using the bagger may benefit both the lawn and the pocketbook by recirculating nutrients and reducing evaporation, which decreases fertilizing and watering requirements. Remember that water is metered in Abbotsford, so you are paying for as much as you use. 

12 Green Steps of Christmas

1.    Oh Christmas Tree - Artificial vs. Natural Christmas Trees

The Great Christmas Tree Debate – Artificial vs. Natural
Each holiday season families are faced with the question: which is better for the environment – a reusable artificial tree or a live Christmas tree? Here are some pros and cons to both options:

Artificial Tree Real Tree
Many artificial trees are manufactured and imported from overseas and the greenhouse gases created in shipping these trees to the local store should be considered. BC produces over 900,000 trees every year supporting the local economy and providing year round and seasonal employment.
The main ingredient in plastic trees is oil – a fossil fuel and non-renewable resource. Real cut trees can be grown using methods that include heavy applications, insecticides and fertilizers.
The main component of artificial trees is PVC (vinyl) that contains phthalates, which accumulate in body tissues and can damage liver, lungs and reproductive organs. Every acre of Christmas trees grown provides daily oxygen for 18 people. Tree farms support complex ecosystems: tree roots stabilize soil protecting water sources from sedimentation, and trees sequester carbon dioxide, a green house gas, from the air.
On average, an artificial tree will last 7-10 years. If you do decide to purchase a cut tree, try to find a local tree farm.
Although fake trees might seem like a better option because they can be re-used each year, they are difficult to recycle or dispose of and most ultimately end up in landfills. Real Christmas trees are compostable. After the holidays, remove the decorations and place them at the curb (according to collection specifications) or drop them off at the Abbotsford Mission Recycling Depot.

If you have the space for it, the most eco-friendly solution is a live tree that you can plant in your yard or keep in a pot.

2.    The Lights and Buzz - Green Holiday Lights
  • switch to LED holiday lights for indoor and outdoor use – LED lights will last 10 times longer, will use up to 95% less electricity and will be more durable than standard incandescent lights;
  • don’t forget to use a timer on those LED lights – a timer can reduce energy consumption by 30 to 50%; and
  • recycle your old incandescent lights at the Abbotsford Mission Recycling Depot 33670 Valley Road, 604-850-3551.

3.    Deck the Halls - Green Decorations

  • decorate with nature.  use excess christmas tree trim for your mantles, centerpieces, and tables.  pine cones, twigs, and leaves can also be used as is or with a little extra (i.e. ribbon) to make your holiday decorations extra special;
  • cinnamon sticks tied with ribbon can be used as tree ornaments or as mantle or centerpiece accents that add a festive scent to your décor;
  • cranberries, popcorn, buttons, wooden spools, and jewelry can be intertwined with string to be used as garland on your christmas tree;
  • make a wreath from foliage.  it is a fantastic family project and you can even set it out to dry and use it again next year;
  • whether you are placing holly, mistletoe, or other floral arrangements around your home make sure to choose organic and locally sourced; and
  • create your own unique ornaments using recycled items such as old jigsaw puzzle pieces, left over ribbon, or old Christmas cards.

4.    Happy Holidays - Sending Warm Wishes in a Green Way
instead of sending a traditional paper card, send an e-card.  there are many sites online that offer free e-cards to friends and family.  Visit www.unicef-shop.ca to purchase an e-card or gift. Every purchase donates to Unicef;

  • if you still want to send a traditional card, buy cards that are printed on recycled stock and that are easily recycled after the holidays;
  • when hosting a Christmas party, instead of sending out a paper invitation invite guests using an e-invite; and
  • get creative! homemade cards are more personal and also a fun activity for the family.
    • cut out sections of pictures from an old Christmas calendar and glue-stick them to a fold over piece of paper. Have the card and message on one side and fold over to pit the address on the other side.  staple, use a small sticker or wax to seal at the bottom and no envelope is needed;
    • children’s art work is another good source for Christmas card pictures. cut out sections of the artwork that looks best and fit to the required size; and
    • try to get in the habit of saving pieces of heavy paper (with one good side) to use as the backing for your glued on pictures. Card stock is the ideal weight and even small pieces are worth saving.

5.    It's a Wrap! Green Holiday Wrapping

  • use re-useable gift bags or shopping bags as an alternative to gift wrap.  if you’re good at sewing make your own cloth gift bags;
  • make the wrapping part of the gift - use scarves or buckets, tins and containers;
  • use newspaper, magazines, comics or even leftover wallpaper;
  • decorate cereal boxes or empty boxes you have around the house;
  • use old road maps, bus maps or trail maps;
  • make wrapping out of old clothes, blankets or pillow cases; and
  • if you still wan to use gift wrap, then buy recycled gift wrap.

6.    All I Want for Christmas.... Green Gift Ideas

  • give a memorable experience such as concert, sport or theatre tickets, gift certificates to a restaurant or spa, movie passes;
  • make a donation to a charity in your family and friends name;
  • homemade gifts are unique and personal. yummy treats, canned preserves (fruit, pickles, jams) or socks and gloves make great puppets;
  • give a green gift such as a compost bin, a reusable bag, transit pass, locally made gifts or choose gifts made from reused, recycled or sustainable materials;
  • give an e-gift card (prepaid gift cards that can be purchased online, and be e-mailed to loved ones;
  • re-gifting is ok! if you receive something you don’t need, look for ways you can reuse this gift by passing it on to someone who can use it; and
  • buy only gifts that are needed and buy good quality so you have years of service from your purchase.

7.    A Partridge in a Pear Tree - Holiday Food

  • Buy locally grown vegetables and fruits and a locally raised turkey for you Holiday dinner. By eating locally the less distance the food will travel to your plate results in less carbon emissions and less packaging. It further helps to conserve farm land and supports local farmers and their families. 

Where to buy:

Poultry farm markets:

    K & M Farms
    28494 Maclure Road

    Rossdown Farm Market
    29709 Downes Road

    Neufeld Farms
    32215 King Road

Fruits and Vegetable Farm Markets:

    Howard Wong Farms
    5486 Riverside Road

    Willow View Farms
    288 McCallum Road 

    Wisbey Veggies
    40326 No. 3 Road

    Yellow Barn Country Produce
    39809 No. 3 Road


For more information visit www.abbotsfordtourism.ca

8.    Merry Christmas Everybody! How to Host a Green Holiday Celebration

  • use reusable plates, cutlery and napkins - if you are using disposable drinking glasses, make sure that they are recyclable or compostable and label them so people can reuse them throughout the night;
  • rather than send out a formal paper invitation, send an e-invite to guests;
  • only cook enough for the people you invite. get advanced confirmation on the number of guests, so that you can prepare you meal portions adequately;
  • buy organic food! organically grown food generates less pollution because it is produced with smaller levels of chemicals and are also better for our health;
  • buy local! locally sourced food helps support our local farmers and protect BC farmland and plays a big role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
  • pack up the leftovers and refrigerate or give take home containers to guests as they leave; and
  • be sure to separate your recyclables and your compostable materials from the true garbage.

9.    I'll be Home for Christmas - Green Holiday Travel Tips

  • put your bag on a diet! The more weight those planes, trains and automobiles have to carry, the more fuel they use. you can help cut emissions with a streamlined suitcase;
    • pack early to weed out unnecessary items;
    • contact your host or hotel to see if appliances such as hairdryers will be available; and
    • coordinate with your traveling companions to avoid doubling up on items that can be shared like toothpaste or shampoo.
  • don't drink and drive! Walking, sharing cabs with your friends, using public transportaion or nominating a designated driver to take a group to and from festivities helps to reduce the number of vehicles on the road and ensures you get there safe;
  • power down! If you are away, unplug all of your small appliances and electronics, set the fridge to its warmest setting (so long as it’s empty) and drop the house temperature to around 15˚c; and
  • if you’re traveling by plane, carbon offsetting is one way to make flying greener and mitigate the impacts of air travel. Carbon credits go towards green initiatives such as clean energy research. Visit the carbon catalog database at http://www.carboncatalog.org/.

10.     Green Shopping Guide

  • bring a reusable bag. if you forget your bag, put as many items as possible in the first plastic bag you are given;
  • phone around instead of driving first to reduce your green house gas emissions;
  • shop where businesses are eco-conscious;
  • bring your own lunch when you go shopping;
  • try to buy items with less packaging. remember that styrofoam is not acceptable in the recycling program; and
  • say no thanks to extra tissue paper or boxes. tissue paper is not accepted in the recycling program because it cannot withstand the recycling process.

11.    Spread Green Holiday Cheer

Let your friends, family and co-workers know how they can green their holiday too! The following tips will help you to spread the word:

  • use social media (twitter, facebook, company intranet, etc.);
  • word of mouth to co-workers, friends and family;
  • flyers on your community mailbox, in your schools, recreation centres, work, church; and
  • tell the kids, they love being a part of a movement and they’re not afraid to talk to everybody about it like some adults are!

12.    After the Holiday - Reuse, Recycling and Composting Options

  • Try to reuse, recycle and compost as much as possible.  Save and reuse boxes, wrapping paper, decorations, ribbons and bows;
  • donate reusable toys or clothes to charities after your kids have outgrown them;
  • donate your live christmas tree to a bird/wildlife sanctuary;
  • cut the branches off your tree and put them into your composter or use them to cover your garden;
  • trees are accepted in the curbside yard waste collection program (trees must meet yard waste curbside collection requirements) or they can be dropped off at the Abbotsford Mission Recycling Depot, 33670 Valley Road, during the month of January.  remember to remove all decorations, tinsel and lights; and
  • recycle your christmas lights (bulbs removed) at the Abbotsford Mission Recycling Depot.

For an expanded list of ideas on how you can conserve and reduce waste this holiday season visit www.abbotsford.ca/engineering under garbage - garbage reduction tips to find out more!

Contact List:

Food Suppliers:

Abbotsford Tourism Website (for more info on local farm markets)
www.abbotsford.ca 

Bakerview Ecodairy (for local dairy, meat, poultry, fish, produce and grains)
1356 Sumas Way
Abbotsford, BC, V2S 8H2
Tel:  604-557-5481

Birchwood Dairy (for local dairy products, fresh produce, soup and bread)
1154 Fadden Road
Abbotsford, BC, V3G 1T9
Tel: 604-857-1315

Goat’s Pride Dairy at McLennan Creek (for local organic goat cheese, goat milk, and yogurt)
30854 Olund Road
Abbotsford, BC, V4X 1Z9
Tel:  604-854-6261

Lepp Farm Market (for local fresh produce, meat and deli items)
33955 Clayburn Road
Abbotsford, BC, V2S 7T7
Tel:  604-851-5377

Lotusland Vineyards (for local organic wine)
28450 King Road
Abbotsford, BC, V4X 1B1
Tel:  604-857-4188

Mount Lehman Winery (for local wine)
5094 Mount Lehman Road
Abbotsford, BC, V4X 1Y3
Tel:  604-746-2881

Neufeld Farms (for local poultry, dairy, bread and fresh produce)
32215 King Road
Abbotsford, BC, V2T 5Z4
Tel:  604-859-0484

Rossdown Farms (for locally fed & grown poultry products and fresh produce)
29709 Downes Road
Abbotsford, BC, V4X 1Z8
Tel:  604-856-5578

The Applebarn Pumpkin Farm (for local foods)
333 Gladwin Road
Abbotsford, BC, V2T 5Y4
Tel:  604-853-3108

Dining Out:

Restaurant 62 (for restaurant that sources out to local area farms)
106-2001 McCallum Road
Abbotsford, BC, V2S 3N5
Tel:  604-855-3545

Christmas Light Recycling (remove bulbs):

Abbotsford Mission Recycling Depot
33670 Valley Rd, Abbotsford
604-850-3551

Regional Recycling (for recycling old Christmas lights)
750 Riverside Road
Abbotsford, BC

Natural Christmas Tree Drop Off (tree must be free of all decorations, garland & lights)

Abbotsford Mission Recycling Depot
33670 Valley Rd, Abbotsford

Local Gifts:

Campbell’s Gold (for local honey, beeswax candles and products)
2595 Lefeuvre Road
Abbotsford, BC, V4X 1L5
Tel:  604-856-2125

Clayburn Comforts Soap & Body Works (for local soaps and aromatherapy products)
34866 Clayburn Road
Abbotsford, BC, V2S 7Y9
Tel:  604-746-2633

The Applebarn Pumpkin Farm (for locally made gifts)
333 Gladwin Road
Abbotsford, BC, V2T 5Y4
Tel:  604-853-3108

Festive Facts:

  • Canadians exchange more than two billion Christmas cards each year.  check out the display on how to ‘green’ your Christmas;
  • each year we use enough wrapping paper to stretch around the equator nine times.  Check out the display on how to ‘green’ your Christmas;
  • Canadians spend about $4 billion on wrapping, decorations and gifts, most of which is tossed in the trash. Check out the display on how to ‘green’ your Christmas;
  • throughout the months of November and December, household waste, increases by more than 25 percent. all of the shopping bags, food waste, packaging, and the wrapping paper and accessories add up to one million more tons a week being added to the landfills. check out the display on how to ‘green’ your Christmas;
  • Christmas is considered to be the most greenhouse gas intensive holiday in North America.  check out the display on how to ‘green’ your Christmas;
  • unfortunately the festive paper used so freely during the holiday season is a rapidly dwindling resource — less than 20% of the world’s remaining forests are believed to be intact.  Check out the display on how to ‘green’ your Christmas;
  • in Christmas 2005, Canadians consumed more than 4 million whole turkeys, equal to 42% of whole turkeys consumed over the entire year. check out the display on how to ‘green’ your Christmas;
  • 40% of all battery sales occur during the holidays. solar powered toys are great, as are educational gifts. check out the display on how to ‘green’ your Christmas; and
  • 35% of food is thrown away during Christmas, plan your catering and find some new ideas for leftovers.

In Canada alone, Canada Post reported it will ‘take more than 575 daily flights to deliver all the 787.3 million cards, letters and parcels that enter the Canada Post system during the holiday season. 6,000 postal vehicles (that travel 77 million kilometres a year) also help to move the mail across the country each day, including 150 highway service tractor-trailers. As of early December, an extra 100 trucks will also be called upon, where needed, to move mail’. Each litre of gasoline used to transport Christmas cards and packages creates 2.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide.