Christmas is a time of family, food, joy and gift-giving, and it shouldn't cost the earth. With a little care and planning, you can enjoy all the Christmas trimmings and traditions you love without a hefty toll on the environment.
Blue Mountains City Council's Waste and Sustainability team are sharing their tips for a low waste Christmas. There's easy and practical ideas to keep waste low for decorating, gift giving and wrapping, and the post-Christmas clean up.
Decorations are an easy place to start making those small changes that have a big sustainability pay off. If you're planning on a different style or theme this year, why not swap your decorations with a friend rather than buying new? Head to the op shops for decorations that are sure to be a unique expression of your style. For a fun festive activity, get your craft on and fashion wreaths, stars and other decorations with twigs before they go in your green bin.
Keep the gifting clutter-free and your recipients will be grateful - as will the planet. Experiences make wonderful gifts so consider giving movie, theatre, exhibition or dining vouchers. Memberships to art galleries, museums or sporting clubs are small in size but big on reward. Handmade or home-cooked gifts have that special personal touch. Unearth a treasure at the second-hand store and shop local to support our Blue Mountains' small businesses and artisans.
For a priceless gift, give yourself. Gift your time and skills to your friends and family; offer to work on their garden, cook a special meal and enjoy it together, give babysitting vouchers so they can have a night out, see a band together, or go on a bushwalk to a special location that has meaning to you both.
Council facilities have some fabulous low-waste gifts available. Blue Mountains Theatre gift vouchers allow the recipient to choose what to see, and when. Suitable for every budget, gift vouchers are available in any amount and are valid for three years from purchase. Contact the theatre at www.bluemountianstheatre.com.au.
A Blue Mountains Cultural Centre InSight Membership gives unlimited free entry to exhibitions, discounts in the gallery cafe and shop, member's prices on art classes and events, plus many more exclusive benefits to inspire both artists and art lovers. The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Shop's range of creative gifts, homewares, stationery, books and children's toys are carefully selected to complement gallery exhibitions and the Blue Mountains region.
Enjoy summer with a Blue Mountains Leisure Centre School Holiday Pass or membership. Or find a locally made treasure from the MTNS MADE range, stocked at the visitor information centres.
Wrap your presents with repurposed or reusable items. A glamorous way to do this is to practise the Japanese art of furoshiki - wrapping gifts in beautiful fabric that can be kept and used in a multitude of ways (including wrapping next year's gifts). Visit op-shops for vintage scarves, linens or other striking fabrics. Another way is to use red and green felt, tied with ribbons or string, and keep the wrappings to use year-on-year.
Once the festivities are over, you may find you have quite a lot of items to fit in your yellow bin. To save space make sure you crush all plastic bottles and cans and flatten cardboard boxes. You can also bring additional items for free to council's two resource recovery and waste management facilities, conveniently located in Blaxland and Katoomba. Please make sure you separate your recyclables by type (eg. paper and glass) before you drop them off. To see the full A to Z of waste and recycling, download council's waste app or visit council's waste webpages.
