It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and your calendar is probably filling up with holiday parties and festive gatherings. While a time for enjoying food and sharing gifts with loved ones, the holidays are also a disproportionately wasteful time; between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, it’s estimated that Americans produce 25% more waste than any other time of the year.
No matter what the occasion, here’s how to throw a holiday party that’s both festive and better for the planet.
Get Cooking
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Instead of buying a plasticized snack and dessert trays from the grocery store on unrecyclable platters – or pre-made meals and main dishes from the frozen section – make as much party food as you’re able.
The processing, packaging, and transportation of food all use energy and contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions. Consider a pre-made vegetable platter sold at a grocery store: the vegetables are prepared and assembled, the dish is packaged in plastic, transported by truck or plane, and then kept refrigerated until it’s sold. According to FoodPrint, about two billion pounds of food are wasted during the processing/manufacturing stage alone, usually in the form of edible portions of food being trimmed off and not reused for animal feed or otherwise repurposed. By making the same vegetable platter yourself, you create no extra waste from packaging, have the option to choose local and sustainable ingredients, and can use those ingredients as efficiently as possible. Prepping food at home also gives you liberty to utilize ingredients you might already have on hand, rather than shopping for entirely new things. Not to mention, ultra-processed foods are generally much less nutritious than fresh, homemade dishes.
Of course, you might not be able to make absolutely everything for a party – potato chips, crackers, and bread might not be up your alley – but think about what you can make. Instead of jarred salsa or packaged cookies, try your hand at making them yourself, or ask guests to contribute a homemade dish. Main dishes and appetizers are a good place to focus your energy.
Buy Local
Buying local ingredients not only cuts down on energy and waste, but also supports local economies. If you don’t have the time or capacity to make everything from scratch, look for local places that make main dishes or other sides, like nearby bakeries that bake fresh bread and desserts. If you’re preparing dishes yourself, buy the ingredients from local producers, whether that’s vegetables, fruits, grains, or dairy products. Because buying local might limit your options to what’s in season, make sure to plan your menu around what’s available (for example, you might not be able to get fresh, local tomatoes in the middle of the winter).
What about local drinks too? Head to a local brewery and ask if they can fill up a keg or growler for a large holiday party (or, buy their drinks in recyclable cans). Make your own wintery cocktails too by using fresh or dried herbs, seasonal fruits, and other liquid ingredients bought in bulk, or using whatever liquor you already have around.
Go Plant-Based
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A quarter of all global greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture – and in wealthy countries, the majority of this comes from livestock. Reducing our consumption of animal products would both reduce emissions and open up land currently used for grazing, which has the capability to sequester carbon and slow global warming.
For your holiday spread this year, choose dishes with no meat or dairy. Try some easy swaps: use vegetable stock instead of meat-based broths; instead of a ham or a turkey at the center of the table, try a Tofurkey or a Field Roast product (which are very flavorful!); try vegan butter products in mashed potatoes or other dishes, many of which melt just as well and have a similar taste. Or, use alternative products in place of meat to make your favorite traditional dishes. Try Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods, Quorn, or your favorite meatless alternatives, or lean into other ingredients to mimic the taste and texture of meat like tofu, jackfruit, eggplant, and chickpeas to make more creative dishes.
Remember that plant-based eating doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing – any reduction is helpful!
Gift Sustainably
Think about the gifts you’ve given or received throughout your life. How many were only given out of a sense of obligation or without much thought? How many gifts have you received that you didn’t particularly want, or didn’t have a use for? It’s estimated that $9.5 billion is spent every year on unwanted gifts: a huge waste of money and resources. But, there are other ways to give gifts or show appreciation for someone; you can keep the sentiment while ditching the wastefulness of the practice.
Take a different approach to holiday gift-giving parties this year. Instead of buying a gift for everyone at the party, consider hosting a Secret Santa (or a non-Christmas version) where single gifts are purchased for everyone. Instead of objects, ask guests to give experiences or regifted/homemade items instead. Or, try a round of White Elephant: participants find
neutral items from a thrift store of their own home (dishware, frames, books, etc.) and swap them throughout the course of the game.
Consider gift wrapping too. Set up a wrapping station for guests to use when they arrive, supplied with sustainable wrapping supplies: reused wrapping paper, collected brown paper or boxes from mailed packages, newspaper, scrap paper from magazines or catalogs, or Furoshiki – traditional Japanese wrapping cloth. Invest in a set of Furoshiki fabrics for future use, or use small pieces of fabric you already have, including scarves or scraps from textile projects.
Go Green With Decorations
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Instead of heading off to the party supply store for new decorations, spruce up your home with natural decor instead. Look in your backyard for pine cones, holly, or fallen pine boughs (or, get them from a Christmas tree shop that has leftover clippings), and use festive fruits like dried oranges and cranberries to make festive garlands for a Christmas tree, banister, or mantle. Set the mood with non-toxic candles that can be enjoyed all year round. If you can’t find just what you’re looking for in your box of ornaments, visit a local thrift store to look for “new” decorations.
Aim for Zero Waste
When cleaning up after a good holiday party, it’s likely that a lot of waste goes into the trash bin. To reduce single-use items sent to landfills, cook dishes in reusable glassware instead of aluminum trays (which can’t be recycled unless they’re completely clean of food and oil, which necessitates the same amount of clean-up as a glass tray anyway). Instead of setting out disposable plates and cutlery for guests, use reusable kitchenware instead. This inevitably will result in more clean-up for the hosts, so plan ahead to have most dishes done before guests arrive to prevent accumulation (and remember that a dishwasher uses less water than washing each dish by hand). If you don’t have enough dishes on hand to accommodate the crowd, ask a few guests if they can bring some extra plates and silverware too.
Think about drinks too. Plastic water bottles and other plastic-packaged drinks might be a simpler option, but they create huge amounts of waste. 1 million plastic bottles are bought every minute worldwide, and, in the US in 2021, only 5% of plastic generated was recycled, so it’s safe to say that most of these bottles end up in landfills or polluting waterways. Instead, set out pitchers of water and reusable cups – even disposable plastic cups, most of which can be washed and reused at your next party. Use removable stickers so guests can label their cups without permanently marking them.
To avoid unnecessary waste, set up trash, recycling, and composting stations for guests with labels on what can go in each bin.
E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world; between 50 and 60 million tons are produced every year.
The e-waste discarded in 2021 alone weighs more than the Great Wall of China: the heaviest man-made structure in the world.
75-80% of e-waste is shipped to countries in Africa and Asia, where poor and marginalized communities suffer health and environmental consequences.
Electronics contain hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which leach into the surrounding environment when placed in landfills, or when the products are burned by “backyard recyclers” in Global South trying to extract valuable materials like gold and copper.
Less than 20% of e-waste generated each year is properly recycled.
E-waste contains valuable materials that can be extracted through proper recycling. It’s estimated that unrecycled e-waste contains $57 billion worth of recoverable precious metals.
Only 25 US states and Washington, D.C. have some kind of e-waste legislation, either mandating the recycling of e-waste, banning disposal in landfills, or prohibiting export to other countries.
What is E-Waste?
E-waste – also called electronic waste, e-scrap, end-of-life electronics, or WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) – is electronics that have been discarded, donated, or recycled. The term “waste,” however, is somewhat misleading; many items still have value in that they can be repurposed or recycled to extract desirable materials inside them.
Six waste categories are included under the umbrella term of “e-waste:” Temperature exchange equipment (like heating/cooling devices), screens and monitors, lamps, large equipment (like washing machines, dishwashers, copying and printing machines, etc.), small equipment (vacuum cleaners, microwaves, electronic toys and tools, radios), and small IT and telecommunication equipment (cell phones, GPSs, personal computers).
Unlike most general municipal waste, e-waste is extremely hazardous and contains toxic materials like beryllium, cadmium, mercury, and lead, so recycling these products requires intensive sorting and handling. E-waste – in part due to the complex requirements for disposal – is often exported to countries in the Global South, where it poses health and safety hazards for local people who mine valuable materials from end-of-life electronics.
Generation of E-Waste
E-waste is a growing waste stream: the fastest-growing in the world, according to Green Alliance, increasing by 21% between 2014 and 2019. Between 50 and 60 million tons are generated each year, which amounts to about 2-3% of annual global waste. While it might seem like an inconsequential percentage, the consequences of runaway e-waste production are extreme.
Why is There So Much?
When the iPhone was released in 2007, 1.4 million units were sold that year. Now, the same amount of phones are sold every 2.5 days. This growth is representative of our greater dependence upon electronics in all facets of the economy and daily life, from which our mounting e-waste stream arises. It’s estimated that 63.3 million US tons of electronic waste were discarded in 2021 – that’s heavier than the Great Wall of China, the heaviest human construction in the world – and it’s only expected to grow. In 2030, e-waste is projected to hit 81.6 million US tons: an amount that could fill more than 100 Empire State buildings.
Planned Obsolescence
Does it ever feel like new, updated cell phones and computers are coming out much faster than they used to? Not only is this true, but it’s a tactic intentionally employed by technology companies so that older models become outdated faster and faster. Even if a product works perfectly well, sometimes just the perception of it as “old” will drive replacement (called “perceived obsolescence”). On average, a person now only keeps a cell phone for about two to three years. Each new product release also comes with new chargers, adapters, and compatible products, making their older counterparts unusable and trash-bound.
But, some manufacturers will also deliberately design products to last for only a certain amount of time: a phenomenon known as “planned obsolescence.” Sometimes, the cost of repairing a failing phone or computer is actually more expensive than buying a new product: another intentional tactic to drive up purchasing. Oftentimes, new software updates are incompatible with older models, and as the world is upgrading to 5G, entire generations of cell phones will soon become obsolete.
E-Waste Recycling
An employee walks through electronic waste awaiting to be dismantled as electronic recyclable waste at the Electronic Recyclers International plant in Holliston, Massachusetts. Zoran Milich / Moment Mobile / Getty Images
Because of the many toxic chemicals present in e-waste, discarded electronics must go through a complicated recycling process that involves separating their plastics, metals, and internal circuitry. E-waste recycling provides an alternative to throwing waste in landfills, where it leaches and causes a hazard to both human and environmental health. Recycling services are provided by some local and state governments – or federally, in some countries outside of the US – or by private recycling businesses.
Benefits of Recycling E-Waste
Along with hazardous toxins, e-waste also contains valuable materials that could be reused in future products. According to the EPA, recycling one million cell phones recovers over 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium. Extracting these materials has economic benefits; a 2018 study found that mining aluminum, copper, and gold is 13 times more expensive than collecting it from properly-recycled electronics
Lithium, for one, is used in many industries and is crucial for making the batteries of electric cars. Because of the huge demand for these vehicles paired with the slow extraction of the element, lithium is in short supply. Mining it from recycled e-waste will supply more to the market, keeping the price of electric cars from skyrocketing due to scarcity.
How is it Done?
The e-waste recycling process entails many steps in order to separate valuable materials from non-valuable and hazardous ones. First, the waste is sorted manually into different types and models and examined to see what can be reused either as parts or to form new products. What is left goes through a demanufacturing process whereby products are disassembled and hazardous material is removed. Photocopying machines, for example, contain toner that is very flammable and could cause explosions in later stages of the recycling process. The remaining non-hazardous waste is shredded in a machine, and from the shreds, valuable materials are removed; a giant magnet captures ferromagnetic materials like iron and steel. This process of finding and removing metals and other desirable materials is what makes the recycling industry profitable. Lastly, water is used to separate the remaining materials (plastic will float, while heavier items will fall).
Why is Recycling E-Waste so Complicated?
In 2019, only 17.4% of global e-waste generated was collected and properly recycled, due in part to the complexity of the process. Each of the six e-waste categories is different – different amounts are generated, they have different economic values, and they pose different threats to human health and the environment – so, the way they must be collected and recycled is very different and requires varied technology. Many products also aren’t designed to be easily recycled, like our ever-slimmer smartphones that resist removal of their batteries. Recycling machines must constantly be upgraded to keep up with changing technology, and manual sorting exposes workers to low levels of chemicals over a long period of time. Regardless, 10/60 elements in most e-waste can’t be recycled through mechanical processes, including aluminum, cobalt, copper, gold, iron, lead, platinum, silver, and tin.
Lack of Regulation
Lack of proper regulation surrounding e-waste in the US also makes disposal more complicated. While other countries have more stringent laws around e-waste, only 25 states and DC have some kind of e-waste legislation, either mandating the recycling of e-waste, banning disposal in landfills, or prohibiting export to other countries. Some states partner with companies to institute a state-wide collection system, and some also impose recycling targets on manufacturers. The US, however, lacks comprehensive federal laws that require manufacturers to provide recycling options for products bought by customers. Ultimately, manufacturers and consumers alike are left to figure out how to deal with waste on their own, which can be costly and lead to improper recycling.
E-Waste Trade and Impact on Human Health
A man is seen working at a TV recycling scrap yard which is considered as e-waste in Dhaka, Bangladesh on October 30, 2022. Kazi Salahuddin Razu / NurPhoto / Getty Images
While e-waste recycling has many benefits, recyclers do not all handle the waste in the same way. Rather than adequately recycling materials – which is complicated and costly – some companies merely export the waste to other countries. Herein lie some of the largest humanitarian and environmental concerns regarding e-waste.
E-Waste Dumping
We know that 17.4% of e-waste was formally collected and recycled in 2019, meaning that more than 80% was not. According to the EPA, an undetermined amount of these end-of-life electronics are shipped from wealthy, western nations to less-wealthy countries that don’t have the capacity to either reject or handle the materials properly. In high-income countries, it’s estimated that nearly a quarter of all e-waste is exported. Some e-waste is shipped with the intention of bringing digital technology to countries without sufficient access, but this official reason is often used as a veil to hide illegal exports as well. In all, it’s estimated that 75-80% of e-waste is shipped to countries in Africa and Asia; China, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Vietnam are major targets. Thus, poor and marginalized communities end up paying the health and environmental price of western e-waste.
Backyard Recyclers
In many countries that are the targets of these exports – like India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand – the extraction of materials from e-waste has become an important source of income. In Guiya, China – considered the e-waste capital of the world – 75% of households are engaged in informal recycling.
These “backyard recyclers” make money by recovering precious metals and other valuable materials from inside e-waste. Items like circuit boards are literally gold mines; the gold in e-waste in 2016 equaled about 10% of what is mined every year. Open-air burning and baths of mercury and hydrochloric, nitric, and other acids are used to melt non-valuable materials away. Once they’re corroded or exposed to radiation, the toxic chemicals in electronics are then released into the atmosphere.
Many of the people engaging in this work are women and children; some 12.9 million women and 18 million children and adolescents work in the informal waste sector and are exposed to more than 1,000 harmful substances, according to the WHO. This exposure to chemicals like lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic, among others – especially when coupled with a lack of safety gear – is extremely detrimental to these workers, and is directly linked to cancer and other health problems. Exposure to e-waste toxins can lead to miscarriages, low birth weights, spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and other adverse birth outcomes in mothers, and neurocognitive issues and decreased lung function in children, who also have a greater chance of developing cancer or cardiovascular disease later in life.
Not only are workers impacted, but also communities nearby these open-air burning operations. EWMs (e-waste related mixtures) are highly toxic combinations that can spread very far from the site of their release and are encountered through inhalation and contact with contaminated soil, food, and water.
Through both informal backyard recycling and leaching from landfills, the toxins in e-waste have a very detrimental environmental impact, especially regarding water pollution. Rain dissolves the chemicals in e-waste, which then runs off into other waterways, acidifies rivers, poisons wildlife, and contaminates drinking water supplies.
Cancer-causing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) – which include industrial chemicals like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and DDT (a pesticide) – resist environmental degradation, and can leak into waterways and the air. These pollutants can bioaccumulate in seafood, contaminate dust particles in the air, and even increase the greenhouse effect when exposed to the atmosphere. Temperate exchange equipment like refrigerators and air conditions also contribute directly to climate change by slowly releasing greenhouse gases. It’s thought that 98 million metric tonnes leak from scrap yards every year, according to The Conversation, which equates to 0.3% of emissions from the energy sector.
Loss of Resources
When e-waste is not recycled and its valuable materials extracted, huge amounts of money and resources are lost. It’s estimated that unrecycled e-waste contains $57 billion worth of recoverable precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum – that’s more than the GDP of most countries. Losing out on these existing resources means that more mining is necessary to extract more metals and rare materials, which leads to acid mine drainage, other pollution, and alteration of the landscape. Some materials like cobalt are also found mainly in areas experiencing dangerous conflict.
E-Waste Solutions
An ‘Electronic Recycling Only’ sign is posted in dumpsters beside hundreds of television sets and assorted electronics forming a heap at Torresdsale Convenience Center in Philadelphia on February 26, 2013. Mark Makela / Corbis / Getty Images
Besides legitimate e-waste recycling (and emerging e-waste recycling technologies), solutions to our growing e-waste problem do exist.
Electronics Repair
In the absence of more durable products, “Right to Repair” laws are being dealt with at the state level, and would require companies to provide consumers with pieces needed to perform simple repairs on their products. Groups like iFixit also provide do-it-yourself solutions to consumers; they list free repair guides for most common products ranging from phones, to tablets, to gaming systems, to hand tools.
Policy Change
To meaningfully address e-waste production and disposal, proper legislation is crucial.
At of the end of 2019, 78 countries that contain 71% of the world’s population had implemented policies, legislations, or regulations to manage e-waste, or had a plan to do so – but in most places, these are not legally binding. Some countries have taken meaningful action against e-waste, like the EU, which has very tough enforcement of their e-waste laws. EU citizens have guaranteed access to free recycling programs for e-waste, a ban has been placed on exports to less-wealthy countries, and manufacturers must play a part in recycling: all policies which help the EU maintain an electronics recycling rate of about 35%.
In the US, however, there is no federal law requiring that e-waste be recycled or prohibiting the export of it to countries in the Global South, and recycling rates are much lower. The country is also not party to the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste (1989), of which 187 UN Member States are parties to and control the international movement of hazardous waste. The US does participate in the International E-Waste Management Network (IEMN) – where governments come together to exchange best practices around e-waste, but it is non-binding and doesn’t represent an official government position – and some states have passed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, which require that manufacturers of electronics must have systems in place for collecting and recycling old products.
Change From Producers
Some companies are taking action against e-waste themselves. Apple, for example, now offers credit for iPhones that are traded in, and like some other companies, they are now mining materials from end-of-life Apple products to create new ones. Apple also introduced a recycling robot named Daisy in 2018, which can dismantle 200 iPhones every hour – but, this still does not keep pace with the rate at which products are produced and thrown away.
Takeaway
The growing production and harmful disposal of e-waste is a complicated issue: one that transcends borders and is tied to human, environmental, and economic health. But, there are both macro- and micro-level solutions, beginning with individual action to combat the production and improper disposal of electronics.
How You Can Help
Buy less. Minimizing the electronics you purchase also has an economic incentive: you won’t be out a grand every couple of years when a new iPhone comes out! Instead, take care of electronics – from computers to phones, to kitchen appliances – so they last for as long as possible.
Repair. When products do fail, work to repair them yourself. Visit iFixit to find repair guides, or use other online resources to learn how to safely and effectively fix what’s broken. If you’re unable to do so on your own, take the product to a professional for repairs.
Resell. Even if you no longer want a product, someone else might. List used electronics on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Poshmark, or other online retailers.
Recycle. When you do have to recycle products, do so correctly. Delete all personal information from your devices, and remove batteries to be recycled separately. Use these online search tools from Call2Recycle, Earth911, and the Consumer Technology Association to find places where electronics recycling is accepted (including batteries). After you find a recycler, find out whether they are legitimate. E-Stewards will help you find vetted recyclers that don’t just export the waste they collect.
Advocate for better policies. Become involved in the fight for better, comprehensive legislation around e-waste that prioritizes human health and the environment over profit.
Do you ever hear that tell-tale pitter-patter of tiny feet from the attic? Some squirrels might just be setting up camp for the winter right overhead.
These pesky little creatures are fast, agile, and acrobatic: the perfect combination for sneaking into attics through tiny entryways. When they’re just outside, squirrels are usually just a nuisance – albeit an annoying one – but can become quite dangerous and hazardous when they make their way indoors. Most often, they head right for the attic: someplace dry, warm, away from predators outside and all of the household action down below, and easily accessible via the roof and nearby trees.
Before these squirrel-squatters get inside – and even after they already have – there are some easy, humane solutions to keeping your attic creature-free during the colder months.
Why Are There So Many Squirrels?
This season, if you’re noticing even more squirrels in the neighborhood than usual – climbing around on the roof, taking bites out of decorative gourds, ripping through the garden – you’re right. There’s been a population eruption of the gray squirrel in parts of the eastern US this year, according to pest expert George Rambo. While squirrels normally only give birth to two litters each year – one in the spring and one in the fall – this year, they produced a third in the summer. In some ways, their population boost is linked to climate change: last winter was mild, which meant that nut-growing trees produced more nuts than usual (a “bumper” crop), so squirrels had abundant resources to feed on, encouraging them to increase their populations.
As a species, however, squirrels have a relatively high mortality rate and often only live for a few months. As the colder weather sneaks back in and nuts get fewer and further between, their population numbers are expected to even out again.
But, while their numbers are high, it’s a good idea to take preventative action to protect your property and keep these critters outside rather than in.
What Damage Do They Cause to Homes?
Squirrels want to come inside for the same reasons that mice and other common household pests do: they’re looking for warmth, shelter, food, and a place to build their nests. In the process, they can cause major damage to the structural integrity of homes by tearing at insulation and wood, chewing through electrical wires, and destroying furniture or belongings in attic storage. They’re known to push in the bricks on chimneys, and can easily ruin terra cotta, slate, aluminum, and shingles, necessitating expensive home repairs. Perhaps most importantly, they bring in scraps and waste from the outdoors, and leave their own urine and droppings in your living space, which creates a health hazard. What can initially seem like a minor issue of noise from the attic can quickly escalate into a more serious problem.
How Can You Keep Them Out?
Find and Seal Points of Entry
If possible, it’s best to do this in the summer before the little critters are looking for a warm winter spot. On the outside of the home, look for any fist-sized holes; on the inside, check for gaps of similar sizes. Cracks are often given away by light seeping through from the outside. Squirrels are notorious for fitting through very small holes, so check areas that commonly have tiny gaps: the meeting points of siding, the openings where pipes and cables enter the home, under the eaves, and the gaps around windows and doors. Seal these with fiber cement or sheet metal flashing.
Vents are another favorite entry point. To seal, stretch hardware cloth over the vent (with extra fabric all the way around in case they try to rip at it) and secure it with a staple gun.
Check Out the Chimney
Squirrels love to come down through the chimneys, attracted by the warmth coming from inside, or by the shelter they provide from the wind. If the chimney hasn’t been used in a long time, they might even make a nest in it.
To keep them from climbing down for a surprise visit to your living room, install caps on chimneys. If you hear them already inside, make lots of noise to encourage them to get out through the top, or hang a rope down from the top of the chimney so they can climb up and out.
Check the Trees
If you’ve ever watched an epic tree-high squirrel race, you know how far those little guys can jump. Trees surrounding the home can be an easy way for them to access the roof and whatever crevices might be up there. Assess the trees around your house and see if any branches are within six to eight feet of it (that’s about how far squirrels can jump). Consider trimming back those that come right up to the house if so.
To keep squirrels from climbing up the tree, wrap a sheet of metal (around two feet high, or about double the length of a squirrel’s body) around the trunk about six-eight feet above the ground. At this height, a squirrel shouldn’t be able to jump over it. Make sure to assess how tightly it’s fastened around the tree every couple of months to make sure it isn’t impeding growth or cutting into the trunk; or, attach the ends of the sheet of metal with springs, giving the tree room to grow. Do this to all trees within jumping distance of that initial tree as well, if possible, so they don’t tree-hop their way to the roof.
Try Repellent
Strong odors like white and black pepper, garlic, peppermint, and hot peppers will deter squirrels (and many other household and garden pests, at that). Most chemical repellents sold at garden centers and hardware stores mimic the natural scents of predators – mostly their urine – like coyotes and foxes, but natural options work well too. To make your own, mix 1 part hot sauce with 64 parts water (or, one tablespoon per one quart). Transfer to a spray bottle and spray anywhere animals enter or leave droppings. Squirrels also hate the smell of apple cider vinegar, and some soaked rags placed around the attic will keep them out. Natural remedies fade much faster than chemicals so you’ll want to replenish the rags or re-spray at least twice a week.
Remove Sources of Food
You can’t do much about a big fruit- or nut-producing tree near the house, but making indoor food inaccessible will remove a major selling point for squirrels interested in breaking in. They’re also very attracted to bird feeders, which are an easy food source. Try squirrel-proof feeders – many of which are accessible only by flight – placed far away from the home and far from trees so they can’t be easily jumped onto.
If They’re Already Inside, How Can You Get Them Out?
septemberlegs / iStock / Getty Images Plus
If you already hear the pitter-patter of little feet overhead, keep up the preventative tactics, like the repellent – you’ll want to drive them out while also preventing them from getting back in.
Use Light to Your Advantage
If you notice squirrels trying to get in, try some very bright lights in the attic. Shine them into corners or places where they’ve tried to make nests.
Make Some Noise
The most low-budget solution to driving away squirrels: make a huge racket. Bang on the ceiling and walls, yell, bang pots and pans, or turn on a radio/TV to full volume. Playing a radio overnight in the attic will likely make them want to leave.
Ultrasonic noise machines designed for rodents are another popular, hands-off solution, although it can be a bit pricey. These machines release high-pitched sounds that are inaudible to humans, but irritating to some animals, driving them out of the room. The noise might bother household pets if placed too close to your living space, but you’ll likely be able to tell if the sound is bothering your furry friends.
Don’t Trap Them Inside
Before sealing up your house from further invasion, you’ll want to figure out whether the squirrels are inside or outside; you don’t want to seal up all points of exit and leave them trapped in the attic with nowhere to go (and, giving them ample time to keep destroying your house).
Squirrels usually leave during the warmest parts of the day, so that’s a good time to do an inspection. Plug entry points that you’ve identified with scrap paper. In a day or two, if the paper shows signs of disruption, the squirrels have probably been going in and out; if not, there are probably no squirrels actively going in and out of the attic, so you’re good to seal up the holes.
Set Some Traps
If the squirrels aren’t leaving on their own, try a humane trap to capture them, making sure to check on it at least once a day. When you release the squirrel, you’ll want to do so after sealing the hole so it won’t come right back inside. Ultimately, it’s best to release them near your house rather than driving them far away, as counter-intuitive as that might seem. Squirrels become aggressive when outsiders enter their territory, so if you move it to a new location, it might be killed. Plus, new squirrels will begin populating your yard in the absence of the former squirrel, and you’ll start the whole cycle all over again.
Removing a Nest With Babies
Before sealing your attic off, you should also make sure that there are no nests inside. If the mother is trapped outside, she could cause more damage to the home by trying to get back in, or the babies could die without any care.
If you don’t want to wait until the babies grow up and leave on their own (which can take about three months), you’ll need to encourage the mother to move them herself. Play a talk radio station loud enough to fill the whole attic and shine a bright light on the nest. All of this should encourage the mother to move them herself to another location. Alternatively, call a local wildlife center that is trained in rehabilitating animals and can safely remove the nest and assist the babies. You should not, however, attempt to remove the nest by yourself; if the nest is brought outside, the babies might be put in jeopardy, or not found by the mother. You also risk getting attacked or encountering bacteria and diseases.
If you notice a lot of damage occurring to your home or a squirrel consistently trying to get inside after being removed, there’s probably a nest in there, and you should call in a professional.
Take note of rules and regulations in your area before taking action. Some states actually require permits to trap and move animals from inside – even from your own home – including Maryland
Removing a Squirrel From an Inhabited Room
Sometimes, a particularly adventurous squirrel will skip the attic and head right downstairs. In that case, remove all pets from the room and take out anything that might encourage the squirrel to stay (AKA snacks). Close all the doors that lead from the room to other areas of the house, but open all of the windows to the outdoors. They’ll likely try to get out on their own, especially if you make some noise on the other side of the door.
What Not to Do
Use Poison
By using a few other tactics, squirrels can be removed from homes without resorting to deadly poisons. Rat poisons are especially harmful; they often won’t kill larger animals like squirrels but will cause serious damage and suffering to the creature. Squirrels can also track the poison outdoors, which can then come into contact with pets or young children.
Try to Trap the Squirrels Yourself
Approaching a squirrel puts you in jeopardy. Some people might try to throw a blanket over the squirrel or trap it in a box, but the animal might become aggressive and attack you, bringing you into contact with bacteria and disease – not to mention their claws. Trying to trap the squirrel in this way might also cause unintentional injury to the animal.
Call an Exterminator Immediately
Many exterminators will come and set kill traps. Before resorting to this, try some of the easier, more humane options that can safely remove the squirrel from its indoor hiding place.
The holiday season is a time for festivities and cheer, but it’s also a time for waste. A 2021 study found that 60% of Americans waste more during the holiday season than any other time of year; 43% more, in fact, among those who celebrate a winter holiday. Before heading out for a new batch of decorations this year, consider what you already have, what you can make, and what alternatives to traditional plastic- and resource-heavy decor you can use instead.
1. Consider the Christmas Tree
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For those who celebrate Christmas, it’s hard to imagine the holiday without a tree. But which tree is the greenest?
The great Real vs Artificial tree debate is multi-layered and complicated, but, generally, real trees bought locally and recycled are considered the most sustainable option. Plastic trees had to be produced, packaged, and shipped to reach your festive living room, and they’re usually hard or impossible to recycle at the end of their life. An artificial tree would need to be used for 10-12 years to match the carbon footprint of a real tree (one that is composted instead of sent to a landfill, that is). Real trees, on the other hand, provide habitats, benefit watersheds, and clean the air as they grow, and are usually replaced when they’re cut down. Moreover, they’re often grown on farms – not chopped down from wild stands – that are unsuitable for other crops.
Even more sustainable than the cut tree is the potted tree. Why buy a new tree every year when you can buy one and keep it for a decade? Small potted trees are available at many grocery stores, and larger ones can be found at garden centers. Before purchasing, consider how much available space you have outdoors when you bring it back outside after the holiday season, as well as your Hardiness Zone and what species of tree can survive there. Remember too that the tree will get shocked if you move it directly from your warm, cozy living room to the frigid outdoors, so transition it slowly by exposing it to the cold for a few hours a day, gradually increasing the time. If you don’t want to care for a potted tree all year, you can rent one instead. Businesses like Rent a Living Christmas Tree in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California rent potted Christmas trees for 30-day periods, then take care of them in the off-season.
Or, maybe you don’t need a tree at all. Have an exceptionally large Dracaena or another hardy house plant? Break out the bulbs and decorate the plants already in your home!
2. Make Your Own Holiday Wreath
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Wreaths are a cheerful decoration for all seasons and holidays, but they can be quite wasteful (and expensive). To make your own, start with a metal base – available at most garden centers – or make your own using an old wire coat hanger or two. Ask for scrap pine boughs or tree cuttings at a Christmas tree shop, and wrap them carefully around the wire. If you’re especially crafty, make it out of paper, pinecones, sticks, or even scrap fabric instead, and the wreath can be used year after year.
3. Set the Mood With Candles
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Candles are a great decoration for all winter holidays; they add ambiance and are also a functional decoration that can be enjoyed after the holidays too.
For a menorah, choose sustainable tapers (tall candles) made from plant waxes like soy or beeswax, or buy from local businesses that make them. Some stores and vendors also have refill options for candles that come in containers.
Better yet, make your own! You’ll need to buy wax and wicks, but you can use whatever contains you have on hand, like empty mason jars or old mugs. Simply anchor the wick in the center of the container with skewers or chopsticks, then pour the wax around it, using a few drops of essential oils for holiday fragrance if you wish.
4. Try Natural Decor
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Along with tree-scrap pine boughs, bring the holiday spirit inside with pinecones, berries from holly trees, and other natural items. Drape pinecone garlands around the living room, or use twigs to fashion stars or other festive shapes and hang them around the house. However, refrain from collecting natural decor from local parks or other public places, including along trails; removing these items can be destructive to the native environment (and goes against Leave No Trace principles). Use whatever you can find in your own yard, or ask friends and neighbors if you can scour theirs.
Grocery and garden stores are also full of natural decorations. Potted plants like poinsettias and Christmas cactuses can be enjoyed all year long and brought out to the main room for the holiday. Try edible decor too, scattering nuts, cinnamon sticks, and dried rosemary on tables and mantles. The classic cranberry strings brighten up a room, and dried citrus rounds – like oranges or grapefruits – strung on a piece of twine or ribbon make for a beautiful and well-scented garland to wrap around the Christmas tree or staircase banister.
5. Go Homemade
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Look at things you already have and consider how they could become festive decorations. Upcycled jars are a great place to start: paint the outside with glitter or a holiday scene and put a tealight inside, or fill with some solar-powered string lights. Place new or leftover taper candles into the mouth of upcycled wine bottles for a waste-free candlestick; fill the bottle with ribbon or some wrapping paper to add extra flair. Instead of buying new sets of ornaments, try your hand at some crochet stars, or origami holiday figures made with old wrapping paper ends. If those crafty skills are out of your reach, try making salt dough ornaments instead. Add two parts white flour to 1 part table salt (a great use for extra or expiring ingredients), and mix with 1 part water. Knead the dough for a few minutes before rolling it out and cutting shapes, and cut a small hole in the top for the string. Press other natural decorations into them if you wish, like evergreen leaves, dried herbs or more flour to look like snow. Dry them out in a dehydrator, oven, or leave out for several days before running twine or ribbon through the hole and hanging them up.
6. Green Gift Wrapping
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The classic pile of matching wrapped gifts is a decoration in itself, but upcycled paper can still look uniform! Use dismantled brown paper bags from shopping trips, or the tissue paper and packing materials (including cardboard boxes) that come in mailed packages. If the matching look isn’t a big deal for you, hold on to magazines and newspapers, or scour the house for other paper items you don’t need, like maps or scrap paper. Some festive touches – like ribbon, twine, or pine boughs – will add extra flair.
If you’re willing to make a small investment, reusable wrapping paper is the way to go. Furoshiki – traditional Japanese wrapping cloth – can be used over and over again, and there are different techniques for wrapping gifts of all sizes with one sheet of fabric. Buy a set of matching pieces to use year after year, rather than buying disposable paper.
7. Thrift or Swap Decorations
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The home goods section of a thrift store is a treasure trove for holiday decorations. Thrifting is great if you’re looking for specific holiday items, like a doormat or dishware. Or, bring out the decorations you don’t need and swap with friends. Roll it into another fun holiday activity, like a cookie-decorating party, or even Thanksgiving.
While you’re enjoying that pumpkin pie and thinking about what you’re grateful for this year, give the planet something to be thankful for, too!
During Thanksgiving week alone, 200 million pounds of turkey are thrown away in the U.S., according to the NRDC. Among other wasted resources, the water from these tossed turkeys alone could supply New York City with water for 100 days. Food waste is already a huge problem in the U.S.; it’s estimated that up to 40% of the food supply in the U.S. is wasted every year. For a holiday so centered around food, it’s crucial to consider the least wasteful way to celebrate.
Here are a few ways to make your Thanksgiving more sustainable, without sacrificing deliciousness.
Clean Out the Fridge and Freezer Beforehand
In the weeks before shopping and preparing dishes, eat foods you already have at home. Not only will this open up valuable space in the fridge and freezer for incoming ingredients and Thanksgiving dishes, but you won’t end up wasting produce or other perishables in the days after the holiday when you’re feasting on leftovers.
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Plan for the Right Amount of Food
In advance of the holiday, coordinate with guests about what they plan to bring for the meal. Make sure people aren’t bringing duplicates, and that there won’t be too many dishes for the amount of people attending.
Consider the size of dishes, too. Think about how much you’ve prepared in previous years and how much was left over. If you’re having the same number of guests as last year and you ended up with half a dish of leftover mashed potatoes, maybe you can safely cut down on the amount you prepare this year. Use Savethefood.com’s Guest-imator portion-planning tool to determine how much food you’ll need for your crew, and share this with your guests ahead of time so they can prepare accordingly.
Also, 86 the dud dishes. If there’s something that’s always left largely untouched — like the cranberry sauce or an unappetizing casserole that’s only baked out of a sense of tradition — skip it, or make a much, much smaller batch for the few people that do enjoy it.
Before you head to the grocery store, take inventory of what you already have to avoid buying unnecessary items. Also consider whether you can make dishes from ingredients in the cabinet instead of buying new ones. For example, if you have a ton of onions and a casserole calls for shallots, or if you have rainbow quinoa and a recipe calls for red, maybe you can make do with what you have on hand instead.
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When shopping, choose local and organic foods whenever possible to minimize the environmental impact of your ingredients. These products are often more expensive, but creating a budgeting plan beforehand can help you decide which sustainable ingredients you can feasibly purchase. Regardless, opt for unpackaged, unprepared produce, and plan ahead to do some prep work in the days before — like peeling and chunking butternut squash and pumpkin on your own — instead of buying bags of pre-cut veggies. Buy in bulk if you can, or at stores that allow you to bring your own containers for dry goods like rice, flour, sugar, and spices.
And, of course, bring your own bags!
Cook From Scratch Wherever Possible
Many simple dishes and individual ingredients can easily be made from scratch, like apple and cranberry sauce, soup, or vegetable and chicken stock. It might require some planning ahead, but this year, try your hand at making pies, bread rolls, or other baked goods that you normally buy pre-made. Consult an easy recipe for these staple dishes, or ask guests who have a talent for baking if they can bring a pie or fresh bread as their contribution. Local bakeries or independent bakers might also have Thanksgiving offerings on their products, too.
Instead of making turkey the main event, pad the meal with lots of sides, or consider a vegan alternative. Plant-based meats have come a long way, and alternatives like Tofurkey, Field Roast-brand Celebration Roast, or even well-seasoned tofu and vegetable dishes can replace turkey as a mouth-watering main dish. Or, if you can’t imagine the meal without it, buy less turkey (maybe only one instead of two for a very large party) and prepare more sides instead (aren’t they really the star of the show anyway?).
A homemade Thanksgiving dish with a vegan turkey roast. bhofack2 / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Revive Dishes After Mishaps
Vegetables wilted? Soak them in ice water. Too salty? Dilute, or add vinegar, lemon juice, or brown sugar. Crackers too stale? Toss in the toaster oven. Overcooked the vegetables? Blend with some stock or milk for a veggie soup. There are plenty of ways to revive ingredients and dishes that go awry.
Waste No Food
Wasted food has major implications for climate change; without food waste, 11% of all greenhouse gas emissions associated with the food system would be eliminated, according to the World Wildlife Foundation. Also, American households spend roughly $1,866 a year on food that ends up being wasted, so keeping food out of the trash also keeps money in your wallet.
Consider food waste while you’re cooking. Are you tossing food that could still be used? Keep leftover parts of raw ingredients — like leek, carrot, and beet greens — and use them for other creative recipes later. And, keep food scraps like carrot peels, kale stems, and onion skins to make a healthy, waste-free vegetable stock. If a recipe calls for only half a bell pepper, maybe you can find a use for the other half, like chopping it up to enjoy with the hummus appetizer.
A salad made from leftover vegetables. Deb Lindsey for The Washington Post via Getty Images
Leftovers are the secret star of Thanksgiving, so make sure you’re prepared to dole them out so they don’t end up getting tossed. Instead of buying a pack of plastic containers, ask guests to bring reusable Tupperware to bring home leftovers, or lend out your own. If there’s still more food than you can handle, donate the excess to local food banks. Many will accept Thanksgiving leftovers or unused ingredients. Research pantries and kitchens in your area that will be open for donations the day after Thanksgiving and what they’ll accept.
Consider Other Sources of Waste
Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, U.S. households throw away 25% more trash than any other time of year. Ask guests to bring their contributions in reusable dishes instead of disposables, and use reusable napkins, silverware, and dishes for the meal. This will definitely require a little more effort during cleanup, so plan ahead and have the dishwasher or sink empty and ready for after-dinner dishes. Make sure to clean dishes while you’re cooking so they don’t pile up; maybe even assign dishwashing duty to an enthusiastic (or unenthusiastic) helper (and, remember that dishwashing machines are more water-efficient and environmentally friendly than hand-washing).
A potluck-style meal also helps cut down on dirty dishes in the host’s home. Guests prepare their dishes in their own kitchens, and thus won’t clutter your counter and sink with dirty pots and pans.
Have recycling and compost bins ready and available, and make sure that guests know what items can go in each (meat- or dairy-heavy dishes can’t go in the compost, for one).
Skip the Black Friday Craze
After a day of appreciating and giving thanks for what you have, why go out and look for more?
Discounts and special offers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday trigger overbuying and a sense of urgency in consumers to purchase things they don’t really need. A 2019 report suggested that up to 80% of purchases on Black Friday (and their packaging) are sent to landfills, incinerated, or are subject to low quality recycling. The impact of the post-Thanksgiving buying frenzy has only grown as online shopping becomes a preferable option to in-store shopping; for example, buying a t-shirt online could entail 4x more emissions than a shirt bought in the store. Stay home (or log off) from the sales this year, and enjoy a longer night at home with your loved ones.
Colder temperatures are here, but you don’t have to let go of the garden just yet. Plenty of vegetables can grow right through the cold winter months, or overwintered until spring rolls around. Winter also means fewer bugs, fewer weeds, and less-frequent watering, so you can happily fill up your plate during the fall and winter holidays with vegetables from your own backyard.
Growing Tips for the Winter
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While plenty of vegetables are cold- and frost-tolerant, some protection will assist those that aren’t as hardy or extend the life of those that do even further.
Covering
With proper protection, many summer and fall crops will keep growing into the winter. Generally, when temperatures drop below 25ºF, it’s a good practice to cover up your crops. The plants themselves might be hardy, but the quality of their leaves and roots might suffer from the wind and the snow.
Cold frames and greenhouses are popular, semi-permanent structures that protect vegetables from the snow and the cold, keeping warm air inside. You can even make your own by balancing old windows over bales or boxes around the edges of the patch. Cloches are like mini versions of a greenhouse; they’re lifted and placed over individual plants or small plots, but you can make a quick DIY version by placing a tomato cage over the plants and stretching a clear plastic trash bag over it. Row covers are another option, and are erected by draping fabric over metal hoops that have been placed down the rows. Spreading mulch or straw over the soil will help insulate the roots as well.
Because of the low temperatures and short days of winter, plants will benefit from more light. On very sunny days, taking off whatever protective cover you’ve chosen will allow more sunlight and warmth to reach the plants.
Timing
Timing is also imperative for winter crops, especially for germination. Many plants are better suited for the cold when they’re larger and more established and will need to be started early so they reach maturity before the first frost date. One way to circumvent the estimated frost date is to start seeds inside and transplant the veggies to their outdoor plot once they’re larger.
Winter temperatures will vary by region; consult the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to determine which zone you live in, and therefore which crops you can expect to survive. Most seed packets will list the optimal zones for a crop, as well as how soon before the first frost date it should be planted. If a hardy crop is already established by that first frost date, it has a much better shot of making it through the winter.
Best Vegetables for Winter Growing
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Arugula
This peppery green is a perfect addition to winter salads. The seeds should be sown in the mid-fall for a winter harvest, and will handle winter temperatures just fine if grown in a cold frame. Their compact root systems make them easier to cover (or to grow inside, if you prefer). Some varieties will also go dormant and overwinter, coming back again in the spring.
Beets
Believe it or not, winter beets taste even better than their summer counterparts; the roots store sugars in the cold weather, so the crop will turn out much sweeter. Beets like full sunlight but can survive frost and near-freezing temps, especially hardy varieties like the Lutz Winter Keeper. Plant the beets in the early-to-late fall for a winter harvest in Zone 8 or warmer. Don’t worry if the leaves on the surface die back as the temperature drops; the roots underneath the ground will be just fine. If temperatures are projected to remain around 25-30ºF and below for several days, go ahead and harvest them.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a cool-season crop that actually prefers fall and winter temperatures down to 25ºF. It can germinate in temperatures as low as 40ºF, and its frost tolerance increases as the plant matures. It’s a slow-grower in the cold, so don’t panic if you’re not seeing much action.
Brussels Sprouts
While they do best between 45º-75ºF, Brussels sprouts can survive for short periods at temperatures down to 20ºF. Depending on the variety, they can grow in zones 3-9; in warmer regions like the Pacific Northwest, they’ll grow through the whole winter. They take three to six months to mature, so you might want to start brussel sprout seeds indoors to get a jumpstart on the season.
Cabbage
Look out for winter cabbages with smaller heads – like Danish Ball Hear and Huron – for your winter garden. Some cabbages can survive in the cold temperatures of hardiness zone 2, and the seeds will germinate in temps as low as 40 degrees. Winter cabbages are slow growers, so patience is key.
Carrots
Like beets, the starches in carrots turn to sugars in the cold, making the crops sweeter. Carrots prefer soil temperatures of 45ºF and above, so a row cover or tunnels are helpful structures; otherwise, mulch the ground heavily before a freeze, or cover the soil with fabric. Even when their green tops die back, the roots underneath will continue to thrive.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower doesn’t do well in extreme heat; in fact, it can’t handle temperatures higher than 75ºF, and is best to grow in the fall – or even into the winter in some regions. It’ll experience some damage if temperatures fall below 20-25ºF, but if temperatures don’t usually drop below that point in your area, you can expect to harvest them all winter long!
Celeriac
Have you ever pulled out the root of a celery plant? If you have, you’ve seen this round, hard root ball that forms under the green celery stalks, called celeriac. This root vegetable has an earthy, vaguely celery-like taste, and can be sauteed, grilled, and baked to perfection. It prefers cool temperatures in the fall and winter, and can survive long after its green stems above the ground die back. Mulch the soil above the roots, and harvest in the mid-winter months.
Collard Greens
These leafy greens are one of the hardiest Brassica species and can live through temperatures in the upper teens. A hard freeze will kill them off, but if you protect them with some sort of coverage when the temperatures plummet, you can keep them alive and extend their growing season well into the winter.
English Peas
Peas tend to trail and crawl up trellises or fences, but if you choose a dwarf variety like Douce Provence or Meteor, you’ll be able to cover them with a cloche and grow them into the winter months. They’ll germinate in temperatures as low as 40ºF and can withstand snow, but uncovered peas will likely die back if temperatures in the teens persist for days on end.
Garlic
Garlic isn’t usually harvest-ready in the winter but instead will overwinter in your garden in preparation for spring. This frost-resistant crop is usually planted in the fall (September through November, depending on your zone) before the first big freeze and harvested in the spring. Garlic is happiest if given a dormancy period; 4-8 weeks of temperatures around 40ºF or lower will help them develop. In colder areas, hardy hardneck varieties – which grow a ring of cloves around a hard stem – are your best bet.
Kale
Kale is among the hardiest of all vegetables. It can withstand freezing temperatures: some varieties as low as -10ºF. Darkibor, Red Russian, Winterbor, and Rainbow lacinato are especially hardy. The leaves become sweeter when grown in the cold, like carrots and beets, and can provide you with fresh greens deep into the winter. Extend your summer kale crop by giving them plenty of light, fertilizing in the fall, and maintaining moist soil. Depending on the variety, you might want to cover them up when temperatures really drop, or during heavy snows, which might break the stems.
Kohlrabi
These round, less-popular Brassicas are happiest in cold temperatures and taste a bit like a mild turnip when peeled and cooked. It’ll need temperatures of at least 45ºF to germinate, and in warmer regions, it can grow right through the winter, especially under mulched soil.
Leeks
Generally, most varieties of leeks can survive deep frosts, snow, and wind, especially varieties with bluer leaves and thicker, shorter stems. Paired with some coverage, you can rely on them to make it through the whole winter. The trick is to keep the roots of the leek from freezing by mulching the top of the soil.
Mustard Greens
While not quite as hardy as other leafy greens like kale and collard greens, mustard greens can handle light frosts. They’re quite easy to care for, and can last into the early winter months in colder regions, or right through to spring in regions with higher temperatures. They like to stay moist, so mulch the soil with wheat straw to trap water.
Onions
Like garlic, onions overwinter well. Plant them as late as two weeks before the first hard freeze, although make sure they get full sun. Choose a variety that labels itself as an overwinter-er for better results, like an heirloom, red, yellow, Kentucky Hill, and Greeley’s onions. Keep the ground well-mulched and cover if the temperatures drop below -10ºF, and after two or three months, you can begin digging up onions to enjoy in your favorite winter soups.
Radishes
Radishes do well with temperatures down to 50ºF, but can still last through some deeper frosts. Winter radishes are slower to develop than those grown in the spring, but they’ll be larger, crisper, and more flavorful. They’ll store in the ground through the winter as long as the soil doesn’t freeze.
Swiss Chard
These frost-tolerant, colorful greens can grow in zones as low as 8, or 7 if they are heavily mulched or otherwise protected. They will be killed, however, if the temperature goes below 15ºF, but a cold frame can keep them going further into the winter. Swiss chard is also a biennial plant, meaning it’ll produce for a second year after being planted.
It’s a huge business with smuggled goods valued at $10 billion a year, and involves tens of thousands of species and millions of wild plants and animals.
Wildlife trafficking not only impacts plant and animal populations, but also humans who rely on wildlife for vital resources and functional ecosystems for major industries.
Of the 1.2 million African elephants that lived in 1980, fewer than 420,000 remain, largely due to illegal poaching.
Tigers have disappeared from 95% of their original range in Africa, and only about 4,000 to 5,000 still exist in the wild.
Pangolins are the most heavily trafficked wild mammal; one million have been poached from the wild in the past 15 years.
Species of both cacti and orchids are faced with extinction from overexploitation.
What Is Wildlife Trafficking?
While there is no universal treaty that defines wildlife crime, in a broad sense, wildlife trafficking is generally defined as a crime that involves the illegal trade, poaching, smuggling, capture, or collection of protected, endangered, and managed wildlife, including both animals and plants.
It’s important to note that not all wildlife trade is a crime; some trade is legal, and is done in a manner that doesn’t harm wild populations. Many wild plants and animals are caught or harvested legally to sell as pets, food, ornamental plants, or to make goods like leather and medicine. Trafficking, on the other hand, refers to circumstances where the manner of collection or amount collected is unregulated or otherwise outside legal bounds.
Scope of Wildlife Trafficking
When you think of wildlife trafficking, you might envision well-known targets of poaching like tigers and elephants, but wildlife trafficking involves tens of thousands of species and millions of wild plants and animals. It’s a huge business — often relying on the same international criminal networks of drug and human trafficking — with smuggled goods valued at $10 billion a year. The State Department estimates that it is the third largest type of illegal trade, after drugs and weapons.
While wildlife trafficking isn’t a new industry, it’s become a growing problem. Rhino poaching increased 7,700% between 2007 and 2013, and elephant numbers throughout Africa have plummeted 76% since 1980 largely due to the huge demand for elephant ivory. According to the Wildlife Conservation Society, unreported/unregulated fisheries are worth an estimated $4.2 to $9.5 billion a year, illegal lumber trade $7 billion, and other illicit wildlife trafficking $7.8 to $10 billion.
Wildlife trade is a global industry, but there are some major hotspots where supply and/or demand is especially high: China (especially along its international borders), in the trade hubs of East/Southern Africa and Southeast Asia, the eastern European Union border, and some areas of Mexico, the Caribbean, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.
Why Does Wildlife Trafficking Happen?
Fraudulent Documentation
Identifying illegally traded wildlife products is complicated. In these markets, not all goods are completely prohibited; some are legally collected and sold, as demonstrated through a legal licensing system. However, fraudulent documents are sometimes used to bring these goods to market, where the products are bought commercially without consumers even knowing that it’s illegal. Because legal markets are often covers for illegal ones, it’s nearly impossible sometimes to distinguish legal products from illegal ones once it’s within a country. Ivory is a prime example of this; a recent report by the NRDC found that 90% of ivory in Los Angeles was most likely obtained illegally, probably unbeknownst to many traders and consumers involved.
High Value Products
Illegal trade of wildlife is usually driven by high demand for rare or protected species. Our taste for trafficked plants and animals is manyfold: consumers want rare animals as pets or to add unusual plants to their collection; the skins and hides from animals like crocodiles and tigers might be wanted for rugs, clothes, and bags; body parts are used for traditional medicines, or, like shark fins, are considered edible delicacies; materials like ivory and rosewood have become a status symbol and are used for decor.
Given the high profit margins of these products, people experiencing extreme poverty see them as a lucrative financial opportunity. Illegally traded products are sometimes a supplemental — or even primary — source of income for people in wildlife trade hotspots around the globe.
Lack of Consequences and Ineffective Law Enforcement
The lack of consequences for illegal trading is a primary reason why criminal wildlife-trading networks often continue to function. Corruption, weak laws and judicial systems, and small sentences make wildlife trafficking a low-risk business for those involved. Lower level workers — like poor locals trying to make money — are often the ones who are caught and punished, leaving the higher-ups in the network free to continue trafficking. Inadequate law enforcement also allows the practice to continue. In many cases, it’s a combination of these factors that allows these products to come to market.
Take African Elephant ivory, for example. Insufficient enforcement, corruption among the enforcement that is there, the danger posed by armed poachers, and a very well organized and well funded network of traffickers all allow trafficking to continue. There also aren’t very strong penalties for the traders; less than 1% of shipping containers unloaded at the port in Hong Kong are actually inspected for smuggled ivory. All of this culminates in a high incentive for smuggling.
Why Is Wildlife Trafficking a Problem?
Overexploitation and Species Extinction
Many trafficked species are also traded through legal means, but illegal trade over-exploits species to the point where their very survival is threatened. Species often can’t replenish at the rate they’re being taken, ultimately leading to their extinction. This phenomenon is evident in the dwindling populations of tigers, elephants, and rhinoceroses, but it goes beyond these more well-known cases. Between 1970 and 2000, populations of species on earth declined by 40% on average, says the WWF, and according to the NRDC, 60% of the planet’s vertebrate wildlife populations have been lost since 1970. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) found that 958 species are at risk of extinction directly because of international trade.
Harm to Ecosystems
Wildlife trade is the second largest threat to the biodiversity of the planet after habitat loss, and it often impacts ecosystems that may already be facing other problems like pollution, deforestation, dredging, and other forms of habitat loss. Overexploitation throws off the balance of ecosystems by removing a key species, creating a ripple effect through the food chain and putting the survival of a myriad other plants and animals in jeopardy.
Trafficking also introduces non-native species to ecosystems that can become invasive and greatly alter food chains as they compete with native species for resources. Burmese pythons are a prime example of this phenomena: a popular exotic pet in the 1980s, many owners released these snakes into the Florida Everglades when they became too large or difficult to care for. Now, the pythons prey on native and endangered species in the Everglades, seriously altering this delicate ecosystem.
While harvesting plant and animal species illegally, non-target species are often killed in the process. When fishing gear is released in the oceans to catch a certain type of fish, other marine life will get caught in the gear and discarded by poachers; similarly, other animals might get caught in traps on land that were meant for the target species. It’s estimated that more than 25% of animals caught across the globe are incidental/unwanted, and end up being discarded.
Harm to Humans
Wildlife trafficking not only impacts plant and animal populations, but humans as well.
Wildlife as Vital Resources
Wildlife populations are necessary for lots of people around the world, especially in poor and economically disadvantaged communities. Rural households might depend on trees for fuel, and animals for protein sources and traditional medicine. In Gabon — a country on the west coast of Central Africa — for example, 60% of protein is derived from wild meat. Four billion people around the world also rely on natural medicines for health care, and these ingredients can be lost as biodiversity diminishes.
Loss of Major Industries
Global economies often rely on balanced wildlife populations and healthy ecosystems for their major industries. Deforestation and illegal logging in Kenya, for example, has threatened the country’s ability to grow tea: a vital industry that brings in millions of dollars to the country. The Mau Forest Complex — a forest needed for catching and distributing rainwater that’s used to irrigate fields — has declined in size by 40%. By some estimates, the Mau is worth $163 million in services for Kenya’s tea industry, which is directly threatened by this illegal logging.
Spread of Disease
According to the World Health Organization, of all the new infectious diseases that have affected humans over the past 30 years, 75% originate in animals. Species pass through many hands along the paths of the illegal wildlife trade, and pathogens can spread between animals and humans that would not normally be coming in contact. There is an even greater risk of spreading diseases when animals are smuggled without being properly inspected. The SARS coronavirus outbreak in the early 2000s, for example, involved bats and small carnivores in Guangdong. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how devastating zoonotic diseases can be. While understandings about the origin of the virus are still evolving, the pandemic has shown how crucial it is that we prevent further outbreaks caused by human-animal interaction.
What Wildlife Species Are Trafficked?
Illegal wildlife trafficking is an issue that spans the globe and often involves multiple countries, and because nation-specific lists of protected species usually focus mainly on native species, it is difficult for countries to challenge the import or sale of other possibly-illegal wildlife products, since they aren’t covered by national legislation. To combat this difficulty, wildlife trade is regulated internationally by the United Nations’ Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (otherwise known as CITES). The Convention has 170 member countries, which follow a common set of rules, basically providing the framework for protecting certain species against overexploitation through trafficking. CITES maintains a list of 38,700 species — 5,950 species of animals and 32,800 species of plants — that are threatened by international trade.
While not a complete and comprehensive list, the following animals and plants are among the species regulated by CITES.
Animals
African Elephants Tusks
African elephants are desirable mainly for their ivory tusks, which are used to make chess sets, jewelry, and other products of aesthetic value. About 70% of ivory ends up in China, but it is trafficked illegally all over the globe. A 2015 report commissioned by the NRDC found that 90% of ivory in Los Angeles and 80% in San Francisco is likely illegal. The international ivory trade ban took effect in 1990, and a lot of legal markets have since closed — including in the U.S., China, and the UK, which have domestic ivory bans — so poachers can’t pass off illegal ivory as legal.
African elephants in Amboseli, Kenya on November 17, 2021. Eric Lafforgue / Art in All of Us / Corbis via Getty Images
The number of trafficked African elephants has been declining since 2011, but their populations are still seriously threatened by illegal trade. Of the 1.2 million African elephants that lived in 1980, less than 420,000 remain. At the rate they are being killed, the population is projected to go extinct in 10 years. The vast majority of African elephant poaching takes place in Africa, where their herds wander through 37 countries. CITES reports that in Africa in 2012, 25,000 elephants were killed, and that poachers kill 30 elephants a day in Tanzania alone.
This high level of poaching has altered elephant behavior in the wild. Survivors of poaching become distressed, and are also more antagonizing towards humans. They mourn their partners who are now deceased, participating in rituals like carrying their bones or tusks. Changes to their behavior also impacts their matriarchal social structure, and the species then has less success breeding.
Pangolin Scales
Have you ever heard of a Pangolin? These scaly anteaters live in Asia and Africa, with four different species on each continent. They are nocturnal and relatively reclusive animals, as well as the only mammal completely covered in scales. Arguably, they are now the most heavily trafficked wild mammal; it’s believed that one million have been taken from the wild in the past 15 years. Pangolins are desirable for their meat — considered a delicacy in some Asian countries — and their scales, which have been a part of traditional Nigerian and Chinese medicine.
A pangolin in an animal sanctuary in Zimbabwe. JEKESAI NJIKIZANA / AFP via Getty Images
Rhinoceros Horns
Rhino horns are one of the most expensive substances on the planet, even though scientists say its reputation as a medicinal substance is a falsehood. The recent myth that their horn could cure cancer led to huge amounts of poaching in South Africa, driving the price up to the point where it began to rival gold as a commodity. They are also sold for their artistic and investment value. Most is destined for China and Vietnam and is smuggled by airplane. All five species of Rhinoceros are threatened with extinction, and only 25,000 animals are left. 75% exist in South Africa, where both drought and poaching have led to their decline.
Two South Africans white rhinoceros at the Aurora Zoo in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Sept. 22, 2022. JOHAN ORDONEZ / AFP via Getty Images
Live Reptiles
Crocodilians, lizards, snakes, tortoises, and freshwater turtles are among the most trafficked reptiles. Many are desired for their skin and shells for decor or clothing, or their meat and venom for food or medicine, but live reptiles are also wanted by zoos, for further breeding of the species, or for household pets. In 2019, 4,000 reptiles were seized from airports, breeding facilities, and pet stores: the biggest bust of its kind to date.
A yellow-footed tortoise, a victim of wildlife trafficking, in Bogota, Colombia on Oct. 8, 2018. Juancho Torres / Getty Images
Big Cats
Except for a few small exceptions, the international commercial trade of all big cat species (except African lions) is illegal, and tigers make up the majority of those traded. Poaching is the greatest threat to tigers; they’ve disappeared from 95% of their original range in Africa, and only about 4,000 to 5,000 still exist in the wild. These cats have been traded for a long time as live pets, the skin and teeth for decorations, and their bones for medicines in East Asia. Tiger bones especially are in high demand. Because of the strength and power of the animal, tiger bone supplements have been long sought after, and are thought to help with inflammation and other bone, ligament, and joint issues. The bones are usually ground into powder and made into pills, or added to camphor and menthol to make tiger balm.
Other big cats are trafficked too — leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, lions, and jaguars among them — but their products are mostly pawned off as tiger products. Approximately 300 cheetahs are removed illegally from their habitats each year, which results in a 4% annual drop in their population.
A Nature Conservation Agency officer holds a leopard cub after the organization and the police arrested a group of wildlife traffickers in Surabaya, Indonesia on March 4, 2022. JUNI KRISWANTO / AFP via Getty Images
European Glass Eels
Not only land creatures are trafficked; the ocean is also a highly poached landscape. The market for European glass eels is relatively new, but growing. Eels spend most of their lives in freshwater, then return to the sea to mate. These eels have not been successfully bred in captivity (although it’s believed that they breed in the Sargasso Sea), so once the creatures in the wild have reached the “glass eel” stage of maturity and their bodies become transparent, they are in high demand for aquaculture. Glass eels are an important food source in Japan, and are sometimes produced and consumed legally, but the legal market is often fed by illegal sources that bring them their stock.
Glass eels caught off the coast of France. Patrick Pleul / picture alliance via Getty Images
Sturgeons
These giant fish have been around since the Jurassic period, and grow up to 10 feet long. In April of 2022, authorities in Sacramento, California busted a major sturgeon poaching operation in the area, exposing the new threat to the species. They are often poached for wild-caught caviar and meat; according to the WWF, one-third of all caviar and meat products sold in the lower Danube region were sold illegally. This July, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released an assessment confirming that all 26 species of sturgeon are now threatened with extinction.
Sturgeons in an aquarium in Germany. Sean Gallup / Getty Images
Plants and Natural Resources
Along with these animals, many species of plants are also illegally traded. Trafficking plants is just as detrimental as trafficking animals: the populations of endangered plants are put in jeopardy, domestic agriculture is threatened by unfamiliar diseases and insects, and the non-native plants might become invasive.
Cacti
30% of the world’s 1,5000 cactus species currently face extinction, and poaching is a culprit.
Houseplants are a hot commodity, especially given their high exposure via social media. Cacti are among the most trafficked plants, and cacti enthusiasts will pay huge sums for rare and unusual species. Cacti are very slow growing, highly localized plants which makes them very sensitive to over-harvesting, but also makes them very attractive to serious collectors. In 2020, a major bust in Italy called Operation Atacama seized 1,000 of the world’s rarest cactuses from a collector, valued at over $1.2 million. Most of these protected plants came from Chile, from which they cannot be legally exported. Many seized plants are taken as “refugee plants” to be raised in greenhouses, as they might soon be extinct in the wild and botanists want to ensure their survival.
Many rare plant species, including cacti, are poached and traded illegally. Janine Stephen / picture alliance via Getty Images
Orchids
These beautiful, flowering plants are a part of the largest plant family with over 30,000 species, and highly desirable as decorative plants, or, less often, for traditional food and medicine. Orchids have been kept as ornamental plants for thousands of years. Collectors in Victorian Europe were said to have suffered from “orchidelirium” (or orchid fever), and paid huge sums for rare orchids. According to the BBC, species of orchids in Southeast Asia are extinct in the wild because of the modern illegal orchid trade. Some orchid species have been harvested by traffickers before they’re even identified by scientists, showing both the huge breadth of the species and the demand for them. Of all the species listed by CITES, in fact, 70% are species of orchids.
Wild orchids in Brandenburg, Germany. Patrick Pleul / picture alliance via Getty Images
Rosewood Timber
Rosewood timber is not just one type of wood; it’s a trade term for a range of tropical hardwoods, encompassing hundreds of different species. This makes it hard to nail down a specific definition of the product for regulation purposes. When measured by value or volume, rosewood is the most trafficked form of flora or fauna globally.
Like many products, rosewood enters supply chains legally. In the past decade, most rosewood has come from Africa and been imported to China, with a smaller percentage going to India. Among other uses, it is a desirable material for making classical Chinese furniture (called hongmu); a single bed made from Madagascar-grown rosewood can fetch as much as $1 million. Rosewood takes decades to grow to a size that is commercially desirable, and centuries to reach full maturity, so illegal harvesting has the potential to be devastating.
Logs of Pacific rosewood taken from a rainforest in the Solomon Islands. Auscape / Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Threat to Global Security and Recent Efforts Against Wildlife Trafficking
Wildlife Trafficking as a Threat to Global Security
Wildlife trafficking presents a threat to the stability of ecosystems, but it can also contribute to the financial instability of countries. In some Central African countries — like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example — poaching and trafficking of both animals and lumber is used as a way for dangerous armed groups to raise funds. Quelling illegal trade is therefore also crucial to maintaining financial stability in these regions.
Recent Efforts to Combat Wildlife Trafficking
There have been many national and international efforts to stop wildlife trafficking, besides the efforts of CITES. The Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) is responsible for prosecuting international wildlife trafficking crimes, usually working with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Lacey Act. In 2021, the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Reauthorization and Improvements Act was passed, which permanently reauthorized the activities of the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking. Advanced technologies also are being developed to figure out the origins of trafficked products. In California, for example, a forensics lab tests samples of the blood, tusks, and saliva of exotic animals to figure out where they came from, and therefore learn where species are being collected illegally.
How to Be a Part of the Solution
Push governments to protect animal populations threatened by poaching. Contact your representatives and encourage them to vote in favor of legislation that prioritizes the protection of endangered species and illegally trafficked flora and fauna. Similarly, recognize the role that climate change and habitat destruction play in wildlife trafficking, and how it puts additional stresses on threatened species. Vote for candidates with a history of supporting environmental causes and who run on a platform of climate and environmental action.
Reduce demand for illegal wildlife products. Get the facts before making purchases and encourage others to do the same. Avoid buying animal products that are known for being illegally traded — such as ivory or certain animal skins — even when they are being sold through legal channels. Similarly, research exotic or reptilian pets before buying them. Make sure they are legally traded, and ask the seller if they can share any information on where the animals were sourced from. Look into plant purchases as well, especially if you’re purchasing them online. If the photos depict them in the wild or freshly dug up, they might be illegal, especially if they are being shipped from faraway places.
Support organizations that are working against wildlife trafficking. Nonprofits and conservation groups like the World Wildlife Fund, TRAFFIC, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, among many others, have a mission of ending wildlife trafficking. Consider donating to support their causes or get involved in their work.
Takeaway
The scope of wildlife trafficking is wide, and includes a wide variety of flora and fauna. It not only endangers individual species and their greater food chains and ecosystems, but also people who depend upon wildlife for resources. It’s a complex, multi-faceted issue that is worsened by many other problems including corruption, habitat destruction, and climate change — but, you can take action to combat wildlife trafficking by voting for representatives that support legislation to end the illegal wildlife trade, and by being a mindful consumer.
Do you ever peer into the compost bin after taking out your kitchen scraps? What do you see (besides your food waste creating rich, beautiful, natural fertilizer)? There are probably a lot of happy creepy-crawlers at work breaking down that green and brown matter, which is exactly what you want to see. But, there might also be some pets that find their way into the bin when they shouldn’t. Here’s which bugs you should welcome into the composter and which you should keep out.
The Good Bugs
Red Worms
If your compost pit is on the ground, you might already see some worms crawling around in it. Among other benefits, when worms tunnel around, they let air and water circulate better through the compost. They also produce worm castings (or vermicast), which is basically just a fancy way of saying worm poop, but it’s the one of the most nutrient-dense, richest natural fertilizers we know of. The casts are actually richer in nitrogen, bacteria, and organic matter than the material that the worm initially ingested. Some gardeners will raise worm farms and mix the castings with finished compost for fertilizer, but you can also put them directly inside your compost bin. They’ll reproduce right inside the bin, too. Just eight mature worms can result in 1,500 offspring within six months, so your supply will replenish itself many times over.
Red worms in compost soil. Elena Iakovleva / iStock / Getty Images Plus
When it comes to compost, however, not all worms are created equal. Red worms (or “red wigglers”) are what you want, and they’re available online and in most plant or garden centers. This type of worm is tolerant of a wide range of temperatures, and feeds happily on kitchen and garden waste. Unfortunately, you probably won’t be able to find them in your own backyard. Regular earthworms (which include nightcrawlers: those ones that feed in the soil and come to the surface at night, or after rain) won’t be able to handle the hot temperatures of a healthy compost bin, and get their nutrients from soil rather than food scraps. They’ll just wiggle their way to the bottom of the bin and try to find a way out, or they’ll die inside.
Soldier Flies
They might look the same as houseflies at first glance, but soldier flies have a different purpose around the compost pile. Like houseflies, they like to lay their eggs on rotting food waste and their larvae look a little like maggots, but their bodies are segmented and grey-ish, turning brown as they age. Soldier flies pretty much exclusively dwell around mulch, manure, and compost piles, feeding on high-nitrogen scraps. Unlike houseflies, they don’t have a ton of interest in coming into your house, but if they start flying in through doors and windows, move the compost bin further from points of entry. While they’re great at breaking down organic material, they might compete with worms for food, so maintaining a healthy balance is advisable.
Isopods
The isopod order includes pill bugs and woodlice (or sowbugs), which look like little armadillos. You might recognize the pill bug, more colloquially known as a rollie pollie. They’re the only crustacean that has adapted to live its entire life on land, and love to feast on decaying matter. They are a friendly face in a compost heap!
Slugs
Slugs are generally not a welcome sight in the garden, but they’re a happy one in the compost bin. Slugs break down organic matter, so they’re beneficial in the decomposition process. If you’re noticing a ton of them though, it might be a sign that the compost is too wet. Don’t worry about them infesting your crops; the slugs will very likely die of old age by the time the compost is ready to be spread in the garden, and their eggs will probably be eaten by other critters or decompose as well. So, if you notice slugs in the garden preying on your veggies, toss them in the compost bin, where they’ll do some good.
The Bad Bugs
While an isolated “bad” bug isn’t usually cause for concern, infestations of certain critters can have consequences for your compost. Some pests might also frequent the pile for a meal, and some might be attracted to the smell. Even though a swarm of fruit flies or houseflies isn’t so detrimental to the compost, it might be annoying to people who live nearby.
Ants
Ants like to find dry soil to build their nests — so, if you’re seeing ants in the pile, it’s probably a sign that your compost is too dry. Compost should have the water content of a wrung-out sponge: pretty damp, but not soaking wet. Consider adding some water to the pile if it’s gone dry, and make sure you’re turning it frequently.
Ants do have some benefits: they aerate the soil and bring in other beneficial microorganisms that increase the biodiversity of the pile. They do, however, compete with worms (arguably the most desirable composting insect), and they like to carry away their food, which could ultimately detract from the health of the pile. Fire ants will attack worms directly, so a fire ant sighting does warrant some action.
Houseflies
Houseflies aren’t necessarily a problem in and of themselves, but they can be a nuisance, and their larvae are unsightly in the pile. If houseflies are swarming the compost and your yard, the pile is probably either too wet, or the balance of nitrogen-rich “green” matter (kitchen waste, grass clippings, etc) and carbon-rich “brown” matter (drier, woodier materials like leaves and garden debris) isn’t quite right. Cover the compost during rainy weeks if it’s too wet, or add more dry brown material to the pile. If you have an exposed pile, don’t just dump scraps and leave it; turning the new matter under will deter flies.
Flies on rotting vegetables in a compost bin. GaryRadler / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Spiders
Spiders too aren’t necessarily a problem for the decomposition process. They’re drawn to the pile for what’s inside: all those good flies and creepy-crawlers. They’ll prey on the good bugs while not doing much to actually help break down the scraps.
Millipedes and Centipedes
Like ants, these many-legged bugs also appear in dry piles. They do feed on decaying plant matter, so technically they do help with the decomposition process. However, they also prey on other beneficial insects in the pile, like slugs, worms, and larvae, which eventually negates any benefit they might have. Centipedes also deliver a painful bite, which can be a nuisance when dealing with your compost bin.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are actually a beneficial composting insect — they are recyclers, helping break down matter into rich compost — but, they are off-putting, and a rather unnerving sight when they make their way into your home. Especially in the winter, cockroaches are drawn to warm compost bins. A cockroach inside the bin isn’t cause for concern regarding the actual compost, but more for its presence around your home. If you notice a roach, make sure the bin is a good distance from your house. They love the smell of rotting food, so a well-balanced pile free of meat, grease, and dairy won’t be as attractive to them.
Small Mammals
Compost is attractive to more than just bugs! Mice, rats, possums, and racoons might be drawn to compost to search for their next meal — especially compost pits or three-bin compost systems that sit directly on the ground and are more accessible to tiny paws.
To keep small mammals out, turn the pile more frequently, or bury food scraps deep within brown matter. Raccoons are the only ones that might keep digging to find what they smell, which is another good reason to keep meat scraps out of the compost. Rodent-resistant bins are an option for keeping out smaller critters, and enclosing a plastic bin in wire mesh will hopefully keep the raccoons out, too. They are adept at opening all kinds of doors and latches, but keeping a weighted lid or something heavy on top of the bin’s door will make it harder for them to access what’s inside.
How to Deter Bad Bugs
The most effective way to keep pesky or harmful bugs out of the compost is to maintain a healthy pile. Meat and dairy will attract more pests, and isn’t healthy for compost anyway. There should be a good distribution of carbon to nitrogen as well: preferably a 20:1 ratio. This will also help with the odor that’s so enticing to mammals and flies. The pile should be turned frequently for aeration, and the moisture level consistently damp (but not soggy). If flies are a problem, cover up fresh food waste with dirt or bury it deep within the pile. It’s easier for bugs to break down compost matter if it’s been shredded or otherwise broken up by hand, so you might consider breaking big things — like corn cobs, whole fruits, and thick peels — down a bit before adding them to the bin.
If you have a major pest problem, pour some boiling water into the bin, which will kill the bugs on impact. However, this will also kill many of the good insects, so this should be a last resort.
When the pile reaches final stages of decomposition, you might notice that there are fewer (or no) bugs left in the pile, which isn’t cause for concern. The pile might become too hot to foster bug life at later stages, and once the scraps have fully decomposed into beautiful black gold, it’s no longer attractive to critters looking for food. They’ve finished their work!
What does it mean to “leave no trace?” When heading out into nature, it’s important to abide by the rules of LNT to preserve natural and protected places – and they’re not just about picking up your trash. Leave No Trace is about leaving minimal impact on the environment, whether it be small, local parks or major, national wilderness areas. It also applies to all activities: hiking, backpacking, running, rock climbing, mountain biking, birding, and even just walking in natural areas.
These seven principles are widely accepted as the primary tenets of LNT, although they change as our use and misuse of natural spaces evolves.
Why is LNT important?
Many natural areas – whether they be local nature trails, National Parks, or public beaches – are experiencing much higher use than in previous years. More people started getting outdoors during the pandemic, finding comfort in nature during a difficult time and engaging in safe, outdoor activities. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, 160.7 million Americans ages 6 and over (53% of the population) participated in at least one outdoor activity in 2020, which is the highest participation rate on record. This also means that many of these natural spaces experienced unprecedented surges in visitation. In April/May of 2021, visits to Acadia National Park in Maine were up 74% compared to 2019, and during the same season, it was not uncommon for visitors to Zion National Park to wait four hours to begin hiking a trail. In 2022, several National Parks instituted a new permitting system to prevent overcrowding, including Rocky Mountain, Yosemite, Glacier, and Arches National Parks.
Reasonably so, we all want to experience the serenity of nature, and appreciate the awe-inspiring parks and natural spaces the world has to offer – but, at the same time, these spaces provide vital ecosystem services and have enormous historical, cultural, and environmental value. The principles of Leave No Trace prioritize the preservation of these spaces by encouraging visitors to minimize their impact as much as possible, leaving no trace of their presence on the environment they visit.
The Seven Principles of LNT
Five backpackers trek along the shore of Arrigetch Creek, with Xanadu, Arial and Caliban Peaks in the background. Patrick J. Endres / Getty Images
Plan Ahead + Prepare
Planning for an outdoor excursion is vital to leaving no trace, and makes the trip much more enjoyable! Poor planning often leads to unintended damage to the environment; if you’re overly tired, or unprepared for a situation that could have been anticipated with better planning, you’re more likely to make poor choices. For example, if you weren’t prepared for rain while camping, you might need to construct a structure out of natural materials, thereby impacting the landscape more than if you’d brought rain flys for tents or water-resistant gear.
When planning your trip, think about the skill and ability levels of all participants, the gear you have access to, and what scenarios you feel confident about handling. Learn about the area beforehand so you don’t encounter unexpected situations that you aren’t prepared for; consider the weather, terrain, and potential dangers of the area.
Food is another important element to plan. Plan for the correct number of people and the correct number of meals; leftovers that are difficult to transport might make you tempted to leave them behind. Look into any fire bans or other regulations that might impact how you prepare your food. If you don’t know before arriving that there’s a fire ban in the area, you might have only brought meals that can be cooked over a campfire, so you make one anyway. If you can, plan to make one-pot meals – which are lightweight and don’t entail much waste – over a portable cooking stove.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
When traveling through nature, the goal of LNT is to prevent as much damage to land and waterways as possible. Trampling land – especially land that isn’t on the trail – can lead to soil erosion and damage to vegetation that species rely on.
Most importantly, follow the designated trail. Since people want to get into nature, trails are necessary, even though they do have an impact too – but, concentrating travel on one deliberately-designed trail prevents further damage. Avoid shortcutting the trail by climbing straight up through switchbacks or walking into the woods to avoid muddy patches (a good pair of hiking boots will keep your feet dry!).
Unlike well-trafficked natural areas, in the backcountry, recreation might entail going through areas without a trail. Consider two primary factors when forging your own path: durability, and frequency of use. To minimize impact on the landscape, you’ll want to walk on the most durable surfaces available. Rock, sand, and gravel are very durable, as are ice and snow since footprints will disappear as it melts. If you must walk through vegetation, dry grasses are best, or sparsely-covered areas where you can walk between plants. Wet areas and fragile vegetation, on the other hand, can easily get trampled and create illegitimate paths that future recreationists might be tempted to follow. Living soil (sometimes called cryptobiotic crust) – often found in the desert – are little raised crusts in the ground that retain water and create habitats for tiny species. Unlike other areas where you should space out walking so as not to trample a single section, in living-soil landscapes, groups should travel in a straight line to minimize impact, and only walk over the area if it’s absolutely unavoidable. If you know you will encounter living soils, consider the size of your group and whether your impact justifies your use.
Choosing a campsite also requires finding durable surfaces. A rule of thumb to follow: good campsites are found, not made. If one is already there, then don’t make a new one. Choose spots deliberately when dispersed camping, although relevant factors will vary by location. In popular, high-use areas, choose a spot that has already been used, and/or already has trampled vegetation and other signs of use. Try to sleep on rock or sand when possible, keep your site small and tents densely-packed, and set up well away from water and trails. Basically, the goal is to consolidate your impact and isolate it to areas that have already been compromised to prevent further damage. In remote, pristine areas – like the backcountry – on the other hand, you’ll want to spread out over a large area to avoid making a noticeable impact on a single spot. Set up the kitchen and leave gear on rocks, if possible, and spread out tents. Try not to stay longer than two days to avoid overuse and compaction of soil. When walking to get water from nearby sources, walk a different route every time to prevent the development of a distinct path. Try to clean up the area when you leave so future campers won’t identify the area as a campsite and use the area themselves.
Dispose of Waste Properly
Inevitably, waste will be generated along the trail. Perhaps the most crucial principle of LNT is leaving nothing behind. Pack out all trash, including food waste and leftovers like grease, peels, and cores; even though these things are technically biodegradable, they could be ingested by animals or otherwise disrupt the ecosystem (not to mention they’re ugly). When you leave the site, look around for tiny pieces of trash, like little pieces of food or debris. Carry all wastewater used for washing dishes at least 200 feet away from camp. If there’s a lot of sediment, strain that out and either pack it out or spread it around. While some soap might be biodegradable, it can still impact waterways. Use soap sparingly and pour contaminated water over a large area.
Although rules about human waste will vary by location, they should be dealt with in much the same way. Urine has very little impact on the landscape, but solid waste should be addressed much more deliberately. If there are any toilet facilities, use those over other options, but burying is generally the next-best option. Walk 200 feet from any campsites, trails, or water sources and use a trowel to dig a cathole 6-8 inches deep. When finished, cover the hole with dirt, leaves, or any other natural vegetation around. Make sure to use varied locations if you’re staying somewhere for multiple days, avoid places where water flows, and choose somewhere with exposure to the sun – which will penetrate the soil to kill pathogens – when possible. Bring along thin, unscented toilet paper (some outdoor stores will sell better, more biodegradable paper) and use it sparingly before burying it or packing it out. Latrines might be better when you’re staying somewhere for multiple nights or with children. In that case, throw in a handful of soil after each use to help with decomposition.
Packing it out is necessary for some areas, like river canyons or alpine regions without soil. You should also do the same for your pets on single-day hikes. Additionally, keeping them on a leash will ensure that they don’t wander off and do their business somewhere you can’t find and remove it, as the scent of their waste could mess with the habits of native species.
Leave What You Find
As the guidebooks say, “take only pictures, leave only footprints” (minimal ones!). Pinecones, pretty stones, flowers, antlers, and feathers are beautiful, but moving them might impact the habitat or food source of creatures, and also diminishes the beauty of sites that other visitors deserve to enjoy – not to mention, it’s illegal to remove cultural artifacts from public lands. Leave nature be and take photos, draw sketches, or just step back and appreciate it. You especially shouldn’t touch or move native species away from the location, potentially compromising their habitat or spreading them to non-native locations. Don’t tamper with trees either; hammering nails, taking down boughs, or carving into the bark can all damage living trees, as can tying guy lines or hammocks around their trunks
Many cultures have long foraged for edible foods; if you are a trained forager, don’t take more than a small amount. Make sure the resource will be able to regenerate itself, and you aren’t decimating what’s there by removing some.
Additionally, try not to alter campsites – this includes digging trenches or building structures for camping. If you do clear an area for a tent, redistribute sticks, pinecones, rocks, and other natural material that was moved when you leave. If you find an area that was seriously altered by previous campers, try to dismantle what you can, and use existing fire pits rather than building your own.
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Enjoying a toasty s’more around a warm, roaring campfire is a treasured camping ritual, but one that can also be very destructive. According to the National Parks Service, 85% of wildfires are caused by humans, which includes unattended and poorly-maintained campfires. You should only build one if someone in the group is experienced and can do it safely.
First, decide whether you need a fire at all. Consider whether it’s safe: what are the regulations in this area for this time of year and for this type of weather? Is there enough wood that removing it will have minimal impact, or is there only sparse wood? Will it take a long time to regenerate these resources? You should really only do it if there’s abundant wood, too. If you do build a fire, ideally, it should appear as though it’s never been constructed. Use existing fire rings, if there are any. If not, a proper fire ring should be entirely enclosed by rocks. Some people use fire pans with high sides, elevated on rocks, which doesn’t impact the landscape at all. When collecting material, never strip standing trees, which are home to many birds and insects. Dead and downed trees are best, as well as driftwood and small sticks. Collect from a wide area to minimize the impact on one specific spot. Bringing your own wood might seem like a logical solution, but this can introduce pests and disease to the area, so only bring wood that’s bought locally (within 50 miles). Let the wood burn down completely to white ash. then put it out with water. Scatter the cold ashes around the area when completely extinguished.
Ideally, however, you won’t need to build a fire at all. Camp stoves are lightweight, packable, safe, and efficient. Recreationalists in the backcountry can easily make meals and boil water with no impact to the surrounding environment. Make sure you’re using the right fuel canister, and never leave empties behind. Instead of a roaring fire, enjoy the darkness by stargazing or lighting the area with a lantern.
Respect Wildlife
When we enter nature, we’re visitors in the habitats of other species, and the principles of LNT encourage recreationists to view themselves as such.
Don’t feed, follow, or force animals to flee (if you’re in danger, that is). Of course, seeing animals in the wild is amazing, but watch them from a safe distance and minimize your sound and general presence so as not to disturb them or alter their routines. Bring binoculars to see them better, or use the zoom lens on your camera. Feeding can also alter their natural behavior and habituate them to humans, or teach them to entirely depend upon our food. Keep food and other garbage where animals can’t reach it.
Also, consider the water resources vital to wildlife. Many areas are water-stressed, and camping at least 200 feet from water sources ensures that animals aren’t frightened away from their drinking areas, and that human waste does not reach and pollute these waterways. Swimming is generally fine, but if water is scarce, consider not jumping in; animals need this resource, and we might pollute it or scare creatures away.
If you find a wounded animal, notify a game warden rather than try to help yourself – the animal might be aggressive towards you, and its family might not return to it if you remove it. Additionally, control your pets on the trial, or don’t bring them if they can’t be kept from disturbing wildlife.
Be Considerate of Others
People go outside to enjoy nature: the sounds, the sights, the serenity. Be considerate of those you’re sharing the trail with by keeping the noise down (especially music), controlling your pets, and minimizing damage to the area so all can enjoy it.
Follow proper trail etiquette when possible, too. Generally, it’s accepted that hikers going downhill should step aside for those coming uphill, although there are exceptions for bikers or horse-riders. If that is you, announce your presence and pass carefully.
Remember that others also want to enjoy their outdoor experience, and no one is superior to anyone else on the trail.
This winter, Americans are projected to pay the highest price in a decade to heat their homes.
A recent study by The National Energy Assistance Directors Association estimates that the average U.S. household will pay 17.2% more for heating costs — $177 more on average — compared to last year, which already saw record-breaking prices.
A combination of factors have led to price increases, especially of fracked gas, which will face the highest increase compared to oil and electricity. Record-breaking heat waves during the summer of 2022 forced utilities to draw on their reserves of fracked gas when electricity demand spiked as affected Americans tried to cool their homes. The Russian invasion of Ukraine last year has also put a strain on global energy supplies; in the UK, residents are anticipating an 80% increase in energy bills this month.
To avoid a colossal heating bill this winter, try a few of these tactics for cutting back on heat while still staying warm.
Shut Doors to Unused Rooms
It’s as simple as that!
If there are vents or radiators present in the room, closing the door will keep the temperature stable inside and the system won’t have to keep pumping out heat. If you don’t plan on going in there all day, you can even close the vent so that heat is redistributed to other rooms in the house that you will use.
Closing doors is especially effective for rooms that don’t have a heater or a vent. That way, all heat pumped out will stay in the area of the house that you’re occupying.
Seal Up Leaks
A well-sealed house stays warmer. Small cracks and holes letting in outside air can really have an impact on indoor temperature; the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that residents can save up to 20% on heating bills by sealing up holes that let in cold air.
Check the walls and ceilings for holes, as well as the spaces around windows, doors, light fixtures, and even outlets and switches. Replace broken caulking and weather stripping that’s falling apart to close up those gaps. Make sure fireplace dampers close properly, too.
To determine whether there’s still a draft, try the flame test: hold a lit candle up to a window or door frame, and if the flame flickers, there’s still some air getting in.
Use Curtains to Your Advantage
Ten percent of heat in the home is lost through windows, but proper use of curtains, shades, or other window covers can regulate indoor temperatures. Passively heat your home by opening the shades and letting the sun in during the day, and closing them back up again at night when it’s cold and dark. Insulated cellular shades are usually the best. Their honeycomb cross sections act as insulators, keeping the temperature outside from coming in, and can reduce heating loss by 40% or more (and they have the added benefit of keeping cool air in during the summer when the air conditioning is on). But, other kinds of blinds, curtains, and drapes work well, too.
Dial It Down
Be mindful of your thermostat setting. Do you really need the whole home at 72º all day long? Dropping the thermostat by 7-10 degrees over an 8-hour period could save you 10% a year. Dial it down when you don’t need the heat — like when you’re away at work, school, or out of town for a long weekend — and overnight when you can get cozy under warm blankets.
Programmable and smart thermostats can do this for you automatically so you don’t have to remember on your own. If you don’t like coming home to a cold house, you can program it to turn on shortly before you get back.
Layer Up
Rather than cranking that thermostat up when it gets cold, throw on a few extra layers. A sweater and some warm socks won’t hurt! Keep blankets around the house — on couches, comfy chairs, and by your desk – so you’re not tempted to jack up the heat. Especially at night when it gets cold, make sure to bundle up.
Turn On the Fans
It might sound counterintuitive, but turning on ceiling fans can actually warm up a room — but only when done right. Configure the fan to move clockwise instead of counterclockwise, which is the setting they’re normally set to for cooling. Because warm air rises, heat collects by the ceiling, and the fan will push that heat downwards when it rotates in the right direction. Some fans will have a switch right on them to change the rotation; otherwise, consult a manual. Make sure to keep the fan at the lowest setting — you don’t need to be creating too much of a breeze.
Keep Vent Fans Off
Unlike ceiling fans, kitchen and bathroom vents can zap the heat from a room. Use them when needed to disperse unwanted smells or smoke, but don’t leave them on indefinitely.
Use Space Heaters
Instead of heating the whole house, warm up a room you’re occupying with a space heater. If you work from home during the day, use one in your office and keep the thermostat temperature low for the rest of the house.
Space heaters do use a good amount of electricity — typically around 1,500 Watts — but given the high price of fracked gas and the savings from keeping the rest of the house cool, running a small heater is likely still cheaper.
Change Furnace Filters
If your home is heated by a forced air system, make sure to change the filter regularly. With a clean filter, the system won’t have to work as hard to pump out heat, thereby using less fuel. The lifespan of a filter varies with the type of system, but some need to be replaced as often as once a month.
Wrap Up Vent Ducts
Heat can be lost into attics through ductwork, but insulating the ducts will keep that heat from escaping. Wrap ducts with foil-faced fiberglass insulation (check on these instructions from This Old House for a step-by-step process). If there are real leaks, you might need to call a professional to patch them up.
Keep the Door Closed
An open door to the outside lets in a whole lot of cold air. When bringing in groceries or bags from the car, take them all to the front step first, then move them into the house all at one time. That way, you’ll only open the door once, so drafts aren’t coming in and out.
Turn Down Your Water Heater
Along with the thermostat, turn down the hot water heater, too. They’re usually set at 140 degrees, but it doesn’t need to be that high; 120 will still give you a nice hot shower. Some homeowners also choose to insulate their hot water heaters (if they’re hot to the touch, they’re losing heat) or hot water pipes to cut down on lost heat.
Cook or Bake
Use the heat generated from cooking and baking to your advantage. After cooking pasta or steaming dumplings, leave the boiled water in the pot on the stove; it’ll heat up the kitchen while you eat dinner. After baking, keep the oven door propped open to let the excess heat out into the room — it’s already been generated, so there’s no sense wasting it! Plus, the scent of whatever yummy treat you’ve baked will waft out with it.
Set Up an Energy Audit
If you’re curious about energy efficiency in your home, some utility companies will conduct an energy audit for a small fee, or even for free. They can recommend ways to cut down on energy usage and optimize your efficiency.
Make Some Upgrades
After an audit — or a personal evaluation of your home — you might recognize that it’s time for some upgrades. According to the Department of Energy, installing new energy-efficient heating or cooling equipment can reduce energy use by 20%, and combining a new system with better insulation, proper sealing of the home, and better thermostat settings can reduce it by 50%.
Especially in older homes, inadequate insulation can be a source of heat loss; attics should have a minimum of 10-14 inches of insulation (depending on the type) to prevent heat loss from the top of the house. An energy-efficient furnace, while a big initial expense, could easily save you money in the long term and eventually offset the initial price.
If you are struggling to pay your heating and cooling bills, consider applying for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federal initiative to help people cover their heating and cooling costs that assisted 5 million households last year.
