Now, more than ever, communities are looking to give back to Mother Nature to take some of the load off her back. Everyone’s heard the old adage, the three R’s, reduce, reuse and recycle. We’ve come up with a few things you can do this Holiday season to achieve these goals, one step at a time!
Recycle | Shopping Bags
Although the ‘Plastic Bag Ban’ is catching on in counties across the country, the pesky plastic bags are still prevalent in most of the states. Rather than shipping your plastic pal to the landfill, try recycling them to fit your needs. Some common uses include:
Pet pick-up; no gloves required | Great to bring to the dog park, or keep handy to change Fluffy’s litter
Packing material | Forget the packing peanuts, use your plastic bags and crumpled weekly newspaper ads to protect presents and other valuables while shipping
Car companion; keep up on car litter | Receipts, straw wrappers, or an occasional banana peel or yogurt cup floating around your ride? Store your old bags in the car to toss the trash. Your passengers will thank you for it!
Still no use? Donate! | Animal shelters, thrift shops and other neighborhood community centers may find your old bags useful. Rather than trashing them, pass them along to someone that does have a use for them.
Fun Factor | Use an old paper towel tube to store your bags. Bust out the craft paper and googly eyes, kids will love to help decorate for a good cause!
Reuse | Last year’s Holiday cards
They come by the truck load, in a variety of colors, themes and shapes… the Holiday greeting card. Save the cards that have a fun design or fun photo to reuse later. Next season, you can cut these cards into the right size, and slip your ribbon or twine through a punched hole and you’ve got yourself a gift tag! Families and coworkers will be surprised to see a piece of their greeting tied to their present this year. Greeting cards are also great for bookmarks, paper ornaments and other holiday decorations like garlands, wreaths or banners!
Reduce | Your Holiday Stress
There’s no shortage of stress, especially during the Holiday season. With the pressure of balancing social obligations, work deadlines and quality family time, it’s no surprise that over 60% of people feel stressed during this time of year. To enjoy the most wonderful time of the year, try these quick tips to manage your stress level:
Spend time with those who matter | An evening out with friends or a board game with the family will do wonders for your Holiday stress
Focus on the meaning of the holidays, not the gifts | Sure, almost everyone would like the latest and greatest gadget or electronic; however, most would be pleasantly surprised with a gift from the heart, something creative or even a day trip to the snow or favorite getaway location.
Get a head start on your New Year’s Resolutions | Just because it’s not January 1st doesn’t mean you can’t get organized, workout, or take up a new hobby now. Use the last few weeks of 2013 to set yourself up for success moving into the new year; after all, practice makes perfect!
Choose SWA for your facility maintenance needs | With the reports, events and last minute tasks from above, the last thing you want to worry about is your building. With SWA, you won’t have to! Allow us to manage the daily task list while you focus on what it is that you do. It’s amazing how much you can get done when you don’t have to worry about the floors, break areas and how many rolls of TP you have left!