December 2007 | On Our Radar

Waste Free, Want Not

By Amy Pennington

Americans throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and Christmas than any other time of the year. That’s an estimated five million tons, (a whole lotta giftwrap and packaging) bound for the landfill.

If those numbers won’t help you rethink tissue paper and cardboard boxes this gift-giving season, then maybe this will.

Waste Free Holidays in King County has been a campaign in Seattle for 12 years. Started back in 1996 with only 24 participants, the campaign was launched as a waste prevention crusade by King County Solid Waste and Seattle Public Utilities. Now, with more than 125 local business participants, Waste Free Holidays has become many shopper’s answer to finding the perfect gift.
Waste Free offers incentives for buyers and support for
local businesses by pairing giftable experiences — yoga classes, kayak adventures, dinners out — with discounted prices (15 to 50% in savings). In essence, a local business offers a gift certificate at a fraction of the real value. Last year, everyone went wild for the bagpipers. Yup, you heard right. Why shop for socks and sweaters when you can get your sweetie their own personal lovers’ serenade?
Or, a Crystal Collecting class in the Cascades.

“It’s just a terrific program,” raves Bob Jackson, a retired geologist and owner of Geology Adventures, a local company (in its second year with Waste Free) that offers rock-collecting field trips throughout Washington. “It’s been the most amazing experience. [The Waste Free Program] goes right along with what we do, producing experiences for people. We’re teaching people about what’s in their own backyard. Every rock tells a story and people get excited about that once they learn the story.” It should be noted, that last year, Bob’s Crystal Collecting in the Cascades tour sold out by January.

For more one-of-a-kind gift ideas — with an eye toward decreasing waste and increasing unforgettable experiences visit: (www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/wastefreeholidays). And for those of you outside of the immediate King County area, fear not, this year, the city of Tacoma and Kitsap and Thurston Counties have joined the Waste Free mission, as well as, way out east in Richland. Now, we can all start dreaming of a “green” Christmas.

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