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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 1995
95-182
CONTACT:
Libbie McClaflin (360) 407-6144
WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THANKSGIVING TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT
Thanksgiving is a typical time of driving to a friend or relative's house, eating a home-cooked meal, and curling up in front of a cozy fire. Here are some recommendations from the director of the Washington Department of Ecology, Mary Riveland, on how to help protect the environment while celebrating this holiday.
"Try a new way to get to your holiday destination by carpooling with other guests or family members. If you are planning to wash your automobile before you leave, use a car wash business that is equipped to handle the dirty soapy water. Also, have your oil leaks fixed on your automobile to help alleviate oil runoff into stormdrains.”
"If you are the lucky one to have your friends and relatives to your home, take your reusable bags to the grocery store and buy in bulk to avoid overpackaging. When setting the table, make sure to use durable dishware, not disposable.”
"Before lighting that fire, check with your local air pollution control authority to make sure a "burn ban” hasn’t been called in your area for fireplaces and woodstoves. Local burn bans are called when levels of air pollution in an area reach unhealthy levels.”
"When it’s time for cleanup, recycle or reuse the paper, glass, plastic, and aluminum items; and compost your food scraps.”
"And as always, have a safe and happy holiday.”
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
