Waste Management - Keeping Hawaii Clean

Waste Management of Hawaii Urges Kamaaina to Give Sustainable Mother’s Day Gifts

Kapolei, Hawaii, May 7, 2008 – This Mother’s Day, why not honor your mother and Mother Earth at the same time? Waste Management of Hawaii reminds kamaaina to think about both mothers when buying gifts for this Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day is often associated with gifts of flowers, cards, clothing, perfumes and candy. Waste Management urges Hawaii residents to kokua and “think green” by considering more durable and sustainable alternatives for their Mother’s Day gift-giving. After all, when traditional gifts end up taking up more space in a landfill, it’s Mother Earth who takes the hit. So this Mother’s Day, give Mother Earth a break by giving your mother a sustainable gift.

“Gifts are a tradition for most holidays and special occasions, so it’s important to think before you purchase. Think about what resources it took to make and package the item and how long it will last after Mother’s Day,” said Joe Whelan, general manager for Waste Management of Hawaii. “There are a number of gestures you can make to celebrate the holiday without generating additional waste, It’s truly easy to think green.”

Here are some green alternatives to traditional Mother’s Day gifts:

Instead of Fresh Cut Flowers…

…Give potted plants, flowers or trees that can be transplanted into a garden. If you do give fresh cut flowers, be sure to place them in green waste container for recycling once they are ready to be disposed of.

Instead of a Mother’s Day Card…

…E-mail your greetings or a photo with your message written on the back. If you purchase a paper card, look for one made of recycled materials. Most cards are even biodegradable. Remind your mom to recycle the card it if she doesn’t plan to keep it.

Instead of Regular Perfume/Lotions

….Read the fine print on labels and purchase natural products, when possible. In addition, check to see if the packaging can be recycled or reused once empty.

Instead of Regular Clothing

…Look for clothing that reduces wear and tear on the earth, consider natural and organic cotton, wool and even bamboo. When choosing clothing, check the labels and consider carefully clothes that require dry cleaning.

“On any gift-giving occasion we always encourage giving gifts that aren’t disposable – whether it’s a durable, re-usable gift, a gift card or an activity,” Whelan added. “By thinking creatively you can come up with the perfect gift for your mother, and Mother Earth – let your mom know you were thinking of both!”

Waste Management of Hawaii operates Waimanalo Gulch, West Hawaii and Kekaha Landfills as an integral part of each county’s solid waste management infrastructure. The facilities handle municipal solid waste, which is heavily regulated, monitored and controlled by local, state and federal government agencies. In addition to its community contributions and significant volunteer efforts, Waste Management of Hawaii provides a benefit to the local economy of more than $2.9 million annually. For more information of how we “think green,” visit www.keepinghawaiiclean.com.

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