Press Release

Simi Valley, CA, December 12, 2008 - The traditional song calls for people to dream of a white Christmas, but for the conscientious consumer, it can also be a green holiday season. No matter what holiday you celebrate, you can take steps to reduce the annual increase in waste created between Thanksgiving and the New Year.

“If each of us took a few small steps to reduce the waste we produce or increase the amount of materials we recycle during the holidays, we’d save a tremendous amount of materials, energy and landfill space,” Mike Smith, Market Area General Manager for Waste Management of Ventura County. “There is no shortage of ways to cut down on wastefulness at the holidays.”

Composting can reduce the amount of organic waste produced in the home. Holiday meal preparation can generate a large amount of potato peels, fruit rinds, coffee grinds, other vegetable waste and eggshells that can be composted. Compost piles are easy to create and composting bins can make a great gift for those looking to take recycling to the next level.

If you have a fresh tree, garland or wreaths, be sure to recycle them when the holidays are over. Waste Management customers can recycle their Christmas trees by cutting them in half and placing them in the greenwaste container or placing the trees at curbside on your regular scheduled service day during December 26 through January 9th. In addition, free Christmas tree drop-off is available at the Simi Valley Landfill, 2801 Madera Road, from December 26th through January 16, Monday thru Saturday, 7 am to 4 pm.

If getting your holiday decorations out of storage makes you ask yourself where you’ll find space to put them away in January, maybe it’s time to clean out the attic or basement. Before you throw things away and therefore miss opportunities to recycle, consider whether an item still has a service life and is acceptable for donation or to an organization such as Goodwill or visit www.freecycle.org and join a local chapter that posts gently used items on the web for reuse for free.

Here are other ways to make this holiday season greener:

Visit www.thinkgreenfromhome.com to purchase recycling kits and gift cards for your recycling friends. Many products are made from recycled or organic content that make great gifts – look for bags or fleece clothing made from recycled plastic bottles or organic cotton T-shirts or other apparel. Many online and catalog retailers sell these types of products. Whatever you give, be sure to buy durable, reusable products that will last a long time. For the trendsetter on your shopping list, purchase vintage clothing or accessories from consignment or second-hand stores. Give potted plants, flowers or trees that the recipient can plant in the garden or yard – not only will it be a gift that continues to be a beautiful reminder of the holidays throughout the year, but it will also provide benefits to the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the air. Thousands of paper and plastic shopping bags end up in landfills every year. Reduce the number of bags thrown out by bringing reusable cloth bags for holiday gift shopping. Tell store clerks you don't need a bag for small or oversized purchases. When packaging gifts, consider reduced or no-waste wrapping options. Put a reusable bow on the gift; place the gift in a reusable bag such as a backpack or purse; or package small, themed gifts in a larger item – such as plates or tableware in placemats or a tablecloth or kitchen utensils in an apron or decorative dishtowel. Also, you can use last year’s wrapping as packaging material. Make your own wrapping paper by using old maps, posters or pages from the newspaper or magazines. Recycled-content wrapping paper is also available. Save bags and bows to use again and be sure to recycle the newspapers or brown paper shopping bags after the gift is opened, or use it for padding when shipping gifts. If you are attending a party or dinner and are bringing a dish for the meal or an edible gift for the host, be sure to package it in a reusable container. If the item is a gift, place it on a decorative holiday plate, in a washable kitchen container or wrap it with a holiday towel. Use e-mail for your holiday greetings – it’s a great way to share photos and keep in touch more frequently and saves paper and postage. If you send cards, make them with last year’s cards or wrapping paper. When entertaining, use washable utensils, plates, glasses, napkins and table coverings. Decorate with potted plants (that your guests may take home and plant) or candles. Be sure to have containers available where your guests can put recyclable cans and bottles. If you have leftover food, send it home with your guests in reusable containers or donate it to a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Consider giving no-waste gifts, such as music or sports lessons, memberships to a gym, the philharmonic or a museum, favors like babysitting or tickets to a sporting event or concert. Find out the gift recipient’s favorite charity and make a donation in his or her honor, or commit to volunteering with that organization.

Waste Management provides Ventura County with recycling, trash hauling and solid waste disposal through G.I. Industries and the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center. Waste Management has owned and operated G.I. Industries since 1998 and the SVLRC site since 1983 and employs more than 230 people in Ventura County. The SVLRC provides approximately 60% of Ventura County's daily refuse disposal needs. The company operates a “green power” program at the site that generates enough power for 2,500 homes, and clean-burning LNG powers 38 of its trucks. Waste Management is a significant contributor to area community groups. For more information visit our website www.keepingventuracountyclean.com.