Sir, – With the festive season in full swing once again it is imperative that we keep the environment at the forefront of our minds. With climate change a stark reality and urgent action needed in order to prevent further irreversible damage, there is an onus on us all to play our part in the protection of our planet.
Therefore, as we go about our Christmas shopping, we could all make an effort to reduce unnecessary waste by keeping in mind these four words: refuse, reduce, re-use, recycle.
It is also worth noting, just because there is no charge on all the fancy paper bags handed out in shops, it is beneficial to our planet to bring our own bag and reduce our consumption of these too.
Another simple step to reduce unnecessary waste is to refuse all unwanted plastic hangers at the shop till. Statistics show that every year 85 billion single-use hangers are discarded across the world. We also have a duty to dispose of all the extra waste created over the holiday season in a responsible manner.
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Climate change is a global concern that requires local action. So, think global, act local.
We are blessed to live in such a beautiful landscape – clean air, pristine beaches, beautiful mountains and lakes, and an abundance of flora and fauna.
We are only the custodians of the planet and we are duty bound to protect and preserve it for future generations.
We can all make a difference by being eco-aware in our daily lives.
Finally, in terms of food waste, please keep our feathered friends in mind at this time of year too. The robin will be waiting for some tasty crumbs. – Yours, etc,
SHEILA COLUMB,
Gortahork,
Co Donegal.