Unique Gifts for the Holidays (PART IV)
Changes are coming to Colorado stores when the calendar flips to 2023.
Starting Jan. 1, 2023, customers will be charged a 10-cent fee per single-use plastic bag. The changes are part of the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act — which will prohibit stores and retail food establishments on and after Jan. 1, 2024 from providing single-use plastic carryout bags to customers. Retail food establishments that are restaurants and small stores that operate solely in Colorado and have three or fewer locations will still be allowed to provide single-use plastic carryout bags.
These changes will clearly impact grocery store trips in the hopes of making Colorado more environmentally friendly. But there are changes you can make at home too to help combat global warming.
As La Voz continues its Unique Gifts series, our staff is asking our readers to consider giving a gift to the environment this year by going green at home. Here are some ways to get you started before the year ends.
Recycle, recycle, recycle
According to the World Economic Forum — an international non-governmental and lobbying organization — of the 40 million tons of plastic waste generated in the United States in 2021, only 5 to 6 percent, or about two million tons, was recycled.
Recycling is truly beneficial for the environment and can benefit communities and the economy. The Environmental Protection Agency says that recycling just one ton of aluminum cans conserves more than 1,024 gallons of gasoline or 21 barrels of oil consumed.
Common items you can put into your curbside recycling bin include cardboard, paper, food boxes, mail, beverage cans, food cans, glass bottles, jars, jugs, and plastic bottles and caps. You can also contact your local county or municipality to determine your local recycling options. Those who are interested in finding local recycling information can do so at berecycled.org.
Take clothes to the thrift store rather than tossing them out
Demand for cool trendy items has led to fast fashion or cheap clothing made by mass-market retailers responding to what is trendy. Examples of those mass-market retailers include stores like H&M, Forever 21 and others.
Earth.org reported that 92 million tons of textiles waste is produced each year, and if the trend continues, the number of fast fashion waste is expected to raise up to 134 million tons a year by the end of the decade.
Clothing should not reach landfill sites when there are plenty of donation options. Rather than tossing out old clothing, consider donating unwanted items to your local Goodwill or other nonprofit organizations next time you clean out your closet.
Don’t toss out an old TV or other electronic items
Electronic devices require a lot of water, energy, and other resources in their manufacture. Reusing and recycling those items are important to environmentally-sound waste management.
If an old TV, computer, cell phone or other electronic item still works, you should consider giving it to someone who can use it. There are plenty of organizations like Cell Phones for Soldiers, who provide free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans, that would happily take your unused phone. Phones can be donated to Cell Phones for Soldiers at L&R Automotive at 10300 Ralston Road in Arvada.
If your old electronic device doesn’t work, there are plenty of recycling options for it. For example, the city of Denver works in partnership with Blue Star Recyclers to offer an E-Cycle Coupon that allows Denver residents to drop off their televisions, monitors and other electronic items at Blue Star Recyclers’ facility at a significantly discounted rate. You can request a coupon by calling 720-913-1311.
