HO HO HOLD the Waste - Holiday Waste Reduction Contest

To encourage waste reduction during the festive season, Thunder Bay Solid Waste & Recycling Services is pleased to announce its 2024 “Ho Ho Hold the Waste” Holiday Waste Reduction Contest, which invites local residents to show their creative and sustainable ways of reducing the amount of waste they produce during the holidays.

The contest has begun, and runs through Jan. 4, with three themed weeks:

• Week #1 – Low-Waste Giving (Dec. 15-21) - sustainable gifts that leave a minimal environmental footprint: think thrifted, reusable and organic gifts, consumable/edible items or experiences, gifts in eco-friendly packaging, etc. 

• Week #2 – Green Decorating (Dec. 22-28) – decorate indoors and out with natural, reusable materials, which may be fresh, recycled or recyclable.
• Week #3 - Conscious Clean Up (Dec. 29-Jan. 4) - responsible disposal and repurposing: properly sorting your recyclables/gift wrap, composting your tree, donating unwanted gifts rather than throwing them out. 

To enter, participants must Like/Follow the Thunder Bay Solid Waste & Recycling Services Facebook page, and post photos or videos on Facebook showcasing their waste-reduction efforts relative to the week’s theme, using the hashtag #HoHoHoldTheWaste

"The holidays are a great time to promote sustainability and waste reduction in the city, and showcase how we can celebrate in an environmentally responsible way,” said Jason Sherband, Manager of Solid Waste & Recycling Services. "Extra waste is typically generated during the holiday season, so we’re excited to invite people to show us their inventive and practical solutions for reducing that."

Winners will be selected weekly based on creativity and theme relevance, and each winner will receive a prize pack. For complete rules and eligibility information on the Ho Ho Hold the Waste Holiday Waste Reduction Contest, visit thunderbay.ca/christmas

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Contact:       Jason Sherband, Manager – Solid Waste & Recycling Services, 807-625-3851