DNR urges people to cut holiday waste - WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, Sports

‘Tis the season – for holiday waste.

"Look at how much shopping people do, which equals presents, which equals wrapping, which equals a lot of waste," said Carrie Mann of Medford.

According to estimates by the federal government, household waste increases by 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Years.

Anna McCabe, Waste and Recycling Management Specialist with the Wisconsin DNR says holiday gatherings lead to more waste.

Wisconsin environmental officials are asking people to remember conservation during the holiday season.

The DNR suggests using newspaper as gift wrap, LED lights with timers and avoiding paper plates.

"Just using some forethought, it can definitely help during this season and just focus on ways we can all try and do a little waste reduction. That would really help overall," said McCabe.

Some people are finding creative ways to incorporate conservation into their holiday traditions.

McCabe suggests giving a loved one tickets an event or a gift certificate to a salon.

"You could have, like, a special garbage bag and you wrap the biggest, most beautiful Christmas bow around it, and that's just for paper or just for all the plastic from like, you know, the party cups and stuff or whatever, just make it part of the party," said Mann.

A few small steps to help reduce holiday waste.

For more information on how to conserve during the holidays, visit http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/recycling/tips.html.