The annual “Gift Outside the Box” campaign returns for another year of promoting environmentally friendly gift-giving this holiday season. The campaign, run by the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, tries to combat the rise of waste over the course of the holiday season. The press release claims that waste increases by an average of 25 percent in U.S. households between Thanksgiving and New Years.
The campaign focuses on five ways you can “Gift Greener” this year.
- Buy Local: When you visit County businesses and purchase gifts made locally, you are helping to improve our area’s economy, support jobs and reduce fuel consumption.
- Gift Experiences: Some of the best gifts are those that bring families and friends together and allow new experiences. Gift classes, workshops, event tickets and experiences.
- Gift Greener: Gifting green means considering the environmental impact of both what you buy and how you buy it. When shopping online, plan ahead to minimize delivery trips and reduce packaging.
- Give Back: Donate to local charities in the name of a family member or friend or consider setting aside time to spend with loved ones by volunteering together.
- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: Reduce waste by choosing gifts made from recycled or reused materials, regifting unused items from last year and recycling wrapping paper.
The Department of Environmental Protection will be handing out free reusable bags and lightbulb exchanges on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Westfield Wheaton Mall, and Sunday, Dec. 15 at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Both events will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of MyGreenMC on Instagram.
