Environmental Impact of the Holidays
(SOCRRA press release, Dec. 30, 2015)
The holiday season is another time of year to consider the three R’s—reduce, reuse and recycle. Consider these stats as you enjoy the season and commit to waste reduction and recycling this year as part of your celebration….
Approximately 1.5 billion cards are sent over the holiday season in the U.S., which requires 300,000 new trees to be harvested per year. Hallmark and Discovery Planet Green
About 40% of all battery sales in the U.S. occur during the holiday season. EPA, Reducing Holiday Waste
Holiday lights in U.S. use more than 2.2 million mega-watt hours (MWh) of electricity every holiday season, enough electricity to run more than 173,000 homes for a year. Eco-Cycle calculation based on Energy Star study and EPA equivalency factors
There are approximately 33 million live holiday trees sold in the U.S. every year. EPA, Reducing Holiday Waste
40% of Americans start their holiday shopping before Halloween. National Retail Federation, Holiday FAQs
More than 3 in 4 Americans wish that holidays were less materialistic. Nearly 9 in 10 believe that holidays should be more about family and caring for others, not giving and receiving gifts. Center for a New American Dream, Simplify the Holidays
For information about recycling services offered through SOCRRA visit: http://www.socrra.org/.
Source of above stats: http://www.ecocycle.org/holidayguide#numbers.