San Diego City Wire

The County of San Diego has offered several tips to help residents enjoy a more sustainable holiday season. The focus is on reducing waste and conserving resources while still celebrating the festive period.

One suggestion is to give "experiences" instead of physical gifts, which can reduce the accumulation of items that may eventually be discarded. These experiences could include tickets to events or gift cards for local restaurants.

Another recommendation is to consider donations as gifts. Friends and family can donate to causes such as animal rescues, where one can virtually sponsor or adopt an animal.

For those who enjoy cooking, homemade baked goods are encouraged as thoughtful gifts. Similarly, individuals with gardening interests might appreciate seedling pots made from reused cardboard tubes.

Shopping locally at stores offering sustainable products can also help reduce carbon emissions from transportation. If shopping online, it's advised to order early for ground shipping instead of air freight, which has a larger carbon footprint.

The county also suggests using minimal packaging by choosing items like candles or soaps that require little wrapping. For gift certificates, zero-waste stores are recommended for their environmentally friendly practices.

Alternatives to traditional wrapping paper include fabric scraps or reusable bags sewn at home. Holiday-themed kitchen towels tied with ribbons are another option for gift wrapping.

Digital greetings via social media or e-cards are proposed as substitutes for paper holiday cards. When hosting gatherings, planning food quantities carefully can minimize waste, with websites like SaveTheFood.com offering tools to assist in meal preparation.

Guests could be asked to bring reusable containers for leftovers, further reducing single-use packaging waste. Composting any remaining food scraps is encouraged if a compost bin is available; otherwise, curbside green bins should be used where possible.

Natural decorations such as dried orange slices or homemade craft ornaments from materials like pinecones and seashells provide eco-friendly alternatives for holiday decor. Real trees and wreaths should be recycled into mulch rather than disposed of in landfills.

"Sustainability is a gift for the earth," emphasizes the county's communication office while encouraging residents to have a happy sustainable holiday season.