During the holiday season, people living in the Portland metropolitan area throw away 25 percent more garbage than they do during the rest of the year. If you’re looking for quick and easy ways to break the trend, let Metro help you with these simple ways to have a waste-wise holiday.
Entertain more sustainably
Use local foods and buy from local markets to make your next holiday party more sustainable and help the regional economy at the same time. Buying local food helps maintain a stable agricultural land base near Portland and supports the region’s economy. It's estimated that for every $100 spent at a farmers’ market, $62 is re-spent locally. If you’re planning to use a caterer, ask them to “fork over” the leftovers to nearby homeless shelters and soup kitchens.
Consider packaging before buying
Industrially manufactured gifts often times come with lots of packaging that can’t be recycled and fills up our landfills. When doing your holiday shopping this year, think about how a gift is packaged before you buy it. Homemade gifts and local arts and crafts often times come with little packaging or sustainable wrapping. Portland area also has a great variety of second-hand and vintage shops which can be treasure-troves for fun, creative and stylish gifts.
Bike, walk or take transit
Most holiday events in the metro area are easily accessible by mass transit, bike or foot. Take advantage of a break from the rainy weather and get back out on your bike or enjoy a stroll through a classic neighborhood. Metro’s Bike There! map and Walk There! book can help you find a great adventure in your own backyard. You can also use TriMet’s trip planner to find the easiest mass transit options to get to your destination. Bring a book to enjoy the ride, an umbrella just in case and let TriMet worry about the driving.