Educational Articles
'Tis the Season to Be Sustainable: Eco-Wrapping Tips for Christmas
by Madison Gallant - December 2024
Christmas is the most joyful time of the year! Cookies are baked, families gather, and Santa Claus is on the way. But this sweet dream is slowly turning into a nightmare for the environment. Not to be a Grinch, but your wrapping paper is harming the environment. Here are some ways you can bring Christmas cheer to Lee County.
It is estimated that about 4.3 million pounds of wrapping paper is thrown out every year, which amounts to 2.3 billion square feet of wrapping paper. Unfortunately, most wrapping paper purchased from stores aren’t recyclable due to materials such as glitter, foil, and synthetic fibers. If every other person used one less roll of wrapping paper, it can make a significant difference.
There are simple, sustainable ways to help the environment without sacrificing the Christmas spirit of gift-giving. One easy option is fabric wrapping. Have old baby clothes, dish rags, or even curtains you don’t know what to do with? Repurpose them as festive gift wrap! Get creative—draw, sketch, or doodle on the fabric to make your wrapping feel extra special and personal.
Another great alternative is reusing brown paper bags from the grocery store. You can decorate them with holiday designs, or personalize each bag to suit the recipient. It’s a fun, creative way to wrap gifts while reducing waste.
And who doesn’t love receiving a basket? By replacing wrapping paper with a basket, you not only save paper but also avoid contributing to the growing problem of plastic storage bins. Baskets can be reused for organizing, making them a double win for the environment. Plus, using a basket means less time spent wrapping, and more time enjoying the season!
This holiday season, I embraced the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Rewrap. Skip the glitter bomb of wrapping paper, and help save the planet—while saving money, too! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a greener future. Let’s keep Lee County Beautiful!
What's Next With Political Yard Signs
by Azriela Contreras - November 2024
by Azriela Contreras - November 2024
The day after November 4th, gardens throughout the community are strewn with obsolete signs that once boldly expressed support. The enthusiasm has diminished, leaving these displays between celebration and chaos. However, rather than ending up in a landfill, picture these discarded signs being repurposed and revitalized as lawn games, festive decorations, or plant markers. Not only are the renovations eco-friendly, but they are an excellent craft for children, too!
Garden Markers
To create garden markers, begin by selecting a color. Paint the board thoroughly, then allow it to dry completely.
Next, using a craft knife (or any cutting tool), cut the board into pieces approximately the size of a bookmark—ideal for marking your plants. With waterproof coloring utensils, label each marker with the names of your plants, herbs, or vegetables. Feel free to embellish the titles with doodles or stencils!
Once your DIY markers are ready, plant them firmly at the base of each crop in your garden. This will help you keep track of your greenery and spice up your garden. Political boards were designed to endure the elements, so there is no need to worry about their fragility.
Seasonal/Holiday Decorations
If you prefer holiday decorations, start by cutting the boards into seasonal shapes—pumpkins for Halloween, snowmen or presents for the winter holidays, hearts for Valentine’s Day, or even flowers for springtime. Use outdoor paint to add any color.
Once decorated, stake these pieces in the lawn, lean them against your porch, or even attach them to fences \\. You could also add LED lights around the edges for evening curb appeal. Because campaign signs are sturdy, they’ll withstand weather changes and can be reused year after year, adding a touch of fun and sustainability to every season.
Yard Games
Old political boards can be turned into yard games, adding a whole new level of entertainment to family gatherings. To create a Tic-Tac-Toe board, cut it into nine squares. Paint the squares in two colors for Xs and Os and arrange them in a grid on the grass.
For a more challenging craft, try making a cornhole set by cutting large holes in two boards and painting them. Add a frame on the back to prop them up at an angle, and get some beanbags! The lightweight, waterproof material is perfect for tossing without fear of breakage.
Another option is to transform the boards into signs for scavenger hunts or game markers for capture the flag. Each board would mark key locations, hiding spots, or “safe zones.”
Conclusion
Recycling political boards keeps them out of landfills and is a unique addition to your lifestyle. These boards have a life beyond election season, from organizing your garden to adding festive decor or creating backyard activities. Whether it’s a creative activity for the kids or redecorating your home, political boards serve a larger purpose than political advocacy.
How to Reduce Your Plastic Waste at Home
by Austin Summy - August 2023
Every year, more and more plastics and microfibers that harm the natural flora and fauna of Southwest Florida are being pumped into the environment. In Florida, more than 7000 tons of plastic waste entered the marine environment last year(Cranor 2022), and worldwide, more than 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the ocean annually (Oceana 2022). If plastic pollution is such a big problem, why is our government doing nothing about it? The problem lies in the systemic integration of plastic into modern society. Single-use plastics are so convenient and widespread that it would be nearly impossible for the government to ban them. Similarly, individual companies cannot eliminate the use of plastic for the same reasons. Unnervingly, roughly 100 companies account for 90% of all plastic waste to date. That being said, there are some steps that ordinary people like me and you can take to make a difference in our environment.
The first and simplest step we can take is to recycle at home using the recycling bins provided by Lee county. There are five household products that are recyclable in Lee County: paper, metal cans, cardboard, plastic containers, and glass. Just a simple act like recycling can have massive impacts on the environment and energy usage. According to the National Institute of Health, “Recycled steel saves 60% production energy, recycled newspaper 40% production energy, recycled plastics 70% production energy, and recycled glass 40% production energy.” Recycling also takes hundreds of thousands of pounds of trash out of the landfill, reducing the amount of waste rotting away and allowing those materials to be reused.
Despite all of the help recycling contributes, it can only take us so far. To really create a change in our environment; we need to move beyond recycling. For example, almost every fast food restaurant relies on plastic utensils and straws for their customers’ convenience. As many as 500 million single-use plastic straws are used every year by fast food companies, and a majority of this waste will either end up in a landfill or the ocean. Once in the ocean, the plastic harms the natural marine life, killing up to 1 million marine animals per year. To combat this, make a difference by not taking a plastic straw from your favorite restaurant, or, bringing a reusable straw from home. Similarly, when picking up food from a restaurant, simply ask to not be given plastic utensils if you are taking the food home.
Another large contributor to the amount of plastic in the ocean are plastic bags. Plasticoceans.org found: “Annually, approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. More than one million bags are used every minute. A plastic bag has an average “working life” of 15 minutes.” Hundreds of billions of plastic bags are used every year for roughly 15 minutes each. This is such a colossal waste of material and is an incredible harm to our environment. An easy way to circumvent this problem is to spend a little bit of money to buy reusable shopping bags. You can easily find them online or in stores for roughly $2, and an increased use of reusable bags may prevent hundreds of plastic bags from ending up in the environment.
Yet another example is plastic shampoo and soap bottles. Almost everyone has them in their house, but do we ever stop to ask if there is an alternative? Why buy bottled shampoo and soaps when bar soap works just as well. Those soap bottles very often end up in a landfill, the ocean, or some other part of our environment and degrade into harmful chemicals and microplastics. Conversely, a bar of soap will leave little to no footprint on the environment. On a similar note, spend a bit of money and buy a refillable water bottle. It will go so far and take even more plastic out of the environment. By following any of these four simple steps, even if not consistently, you can make a difference for our environment.
This holiday season, consider giving an eco-friendly gift that not only shows your love for the recipient but also for the Earth. Individually, we each may only make a small difference, but together, we can make a big and real impact.