CHRISTMAS around the world is a festive time for cheers and gift-giving. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most wasteful time of the year. Throughout the year, the Environmental Protection Agency would have offered practical advice and solutions on how you as consumers can manage your waste, conserve water and electricity and overall be more environmentally conscious.

The festive season has a huge environmental impact in terms of water and energy usage. There is the release of greenhouse gases and land disturbances caused by the production, consumption and disposal of some of our favourite holiday items. If we can all try to reduce our eco-footprint it would go a far way in protecting our environment.
Environmentally friendly tips for the season

Some ways we can make small changes, but have a big impact;
• Make at least some of your Christmas decorations. At the EPA we would have shared ideas about reusing and upcycling throughout the year on several television, radio and outreach programmes. This is a good time to put into practice what you would have learned and make attractive decorations. CD’s, cardboards, mason jars, glass and plastic bottles and many other items around the home can be creatively transformed.

• Reuse packaging cartons and shipping materials when you go shopping for new furniture and other household items.

• Remember to unplug Christmas lights in and around the home when going to bed. This will help you to conserve energy and most of all , save you some needed cash for after the holidays.

• Look for energy saving lights and if you can use automatic timers to turn on and off. This will not only be good for the environment but also for safety and will give you peace of mind while you’re away.

• Keep it simple: one thoughtful gift is better than six wrapped packages of unwanted gifts. Plan ahead.

• Give the gift of an experience: music lessons, lessons for a new hobby, a massage, a trip to a resort or one of Guyana’s Protected Areas. This is perfect for friends who want to try something new and the best part is, you don’t have to wrap the gift.

• Give a monetary donation to a local charity and environmental clubs in your community so they can execute projects that would enhance the community.

• Make gift giving a bit fun this year, don’t wrap gifts. Hide them and give the recipient as clues. Make the search a treasure hunt.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.