Option
The environmental organization Greenpeace warns that mountains of rubbish are growing in Austria around the Christmas holidays. During this time, around 375.000 garbage cans are filled every day – on average at least ten percent more than usual. Whether food, packaging or Christmas trees - a lot ends up in the garbage after a short time. “Christmas must not become a festival of mountains of rubbish. Even if you use a shopping list for the holiday meal or give time instead of a quick-fix gift, you can enjoy the holidays in a more environmentally friendly way,” says Greenpeace expert Herwig Schuster. In order to avoid these massive mountains of rubbish, Greenpeace has put together five valuable tips:
1. Food waste
On average, 16 percent of residual waste consists of food waste. At Christmas time, the volume increases by ten percent. According to Greenpeace, this means that at least one additional meal per Austrian ends up in the garbage. To avoid mountains of rubbish, Greenpeace advises making a shopping list and cooking up recipes that use similar ingredients. As a result, waste can be significantly reduced.
2. Gifts
Up to 40 percent of the climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions in Austrian households are caused by consumer goods such as clothing, electronics, furniture and toys. Every year, Austrians spend around 400 euros on Christmas presents - much of it is hardly used or returned after the holidays. This is catastrophic for the environment: According to a Greenpeace calculation, 1,4 million returned packages full of new clothing and electronics are destroyed in Austria every year. In order to protect the environment and climate, Greenpeace advises giving time - for example by taking a trip together by train or attending a workshop. Second-hand shops can also be a treasure trove for gifts.
3. Packaging
More than 140 million parcels will be sent from retailers to private households in 2022. If you create an average package height of only 30 cm, the stacked packages reach around the equator. In order to avoid packaging waste, it is better to use reusable packaging. This option was successfully tested by Austrian Post in 2022 at five large companies and is to be offered nationwide from spring 2023.
4. Christmas tree
More than 2,8 million Christmas trees are set up in Austria every year. An average Christmas tree absorbs around 16 kilograms of climate-damaging CO2 from the atmosphere over the course of its short life. If they are disposed of – usually incinerated – the CO2 is released again. It is more climate and environmentally friendly to rent a living Christmas tree from the region and have it put back into the ground after the holidays. Good alternatives are also home-made tree variants, for example from fallen branches or a converted houseplant.
5. Christmas cleaning
Around Christmas, there is also a lot of activity in the waste collection centers - because many use the time to clean and muck out the house or apartment. Anyone who discovers their talent for repairs or gives old things a new life can avoid a lot of waste. With the repair bonus, private individuals resident in Austria can cover up to 50 percent of the repair costs of up to 200 euros.
Photo / Video: Greenpeace | Mitya Kobal.
