ROME ASKED TO IGNORE WRAPPING GIFTS THIS CHRISTMAS AS WASTE CRISIS LOOMS

Sat 11 December 2021:

The long-standing issue of rubbish collection appears to be wreaking havoc on the Italian city. To keep a lid on it, the authorities have asked Rome citizens to use less wrapping paper on their gifts this Christmas.

The city’s new officials want to make a concentrated effort to keep their pledge of cleaning up the streets by Christmas.

Along with the call to ignore wrapping paper, the authorities are rewarding garbage collectors with bonuses to reduce seasonal absenteeism.

The environment councillor, Sabrina Alfonsi, told Il Messaggero that the wrapping paper issue was “no joke.”

Alfonsi added, “As an administration we have taken all the possible actions to improve (waste) collection and to find new outlets for the rubbish that is produced in Rome. Christmas is a particularly complicated period, especially for parcels. The production of waste is growing, when instead it must decrease.”

As a result of the negative feedback, she highlighted that it is a method to contribute to keeping the city clean. “There is no initiative on behalf of the council to reduce Christmas parcels. This is a problem that concerns packaging, which is a problem not only for Rome but the whole of Europe,” Alfonsi told the news agency Ansa.

How to wrap sustainable gifts without the waste

Shiny wrapping paper or anything that contains foil or glitter is meant for the garbage as opposed to the recycling bin, said Jessica Correa, founder of advocacy group Random Acts of Green.

But even when wrapping paper is recycling-friendly, it’s not always treated this way.

“Think about all the houses that are opening gifts on Christmas morning, all of the people giving gifts, and think about all that waste,” she said. “Even the things that are recyclable are often packed up with the garbage.”

Always think about more sustainable ways to wrap your gifts, she said. It will make the cleanup easier, too.

Grieve recommends using gift baskets that are a gift in itself, as they can be reused after the holidays.

She says you can find the baskets at thrift stores and then put sustainable gifts in them for easy transport.

One gift idea is to use a mason jar and fill it with treats or coffee, she said. The jar can be used again and makes for a nice presentation.

Wrapping a gift in a holiday-themed dish towel or grocery bag that is another present in itself will also reduce waste, said Grieve.

“See if you can use a piece of clothing to wrap your gift or use something you already have,” Newspaper is also a great alternative.”

Buying sustainable gifts

There are also ways to buy gifts that don’t produce any waste, Grieve said.

For the beauty and wellness lover, purchasing presents like shampoo bars that don’t use plastic packaging will make a difference, as will recycled clothing. You could also look for reusable makeup wipes and other eco-friendly products.

“Put a little effort in and find some great ideas,” said Grieve, encouraging people to think “outside the box.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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