AFTER THE SEASONAL FESTIVITIES

According to Birmingham Friends of the Earth, we create an average extra 50 kg of waste per person during the festive period - Birmingham City Council collects and disposes of this additional 500,000 tonnes of refuse.

Let's reflect and consider if the pleasure we received from this indulgence was so great that we don't care about the side effects.

If we are hesitant to agree that all our expenditure, both in cash and in time, was worthwhile, it is worth noting now what we might do differently next year. Make sure that the note is put where it will be noticed, as a reminder, before you start planning your purchases and festive treats this year.

It may be difficult to break away from accepted traditions but it is worth the effort. Alternative, more sustainable activities and purchases can give much more pleasure. If you have some advice to pass on, please write a comment.

We broke away from traditions many years ago by escaping with one of our sons to Paris. He has now moved to Brazil, so the option of a short holiday with him this year was out of the question. We stayed in Birmingham and enjoyed ourselves without any expectations and/or demands from others. Our family gathering (six adults, two children and a dog) started on Boxing Day instead, without most of the seasonal trimmings, and with all of the seasonal spirit of peace and goodwill, sharing memories and plans for the future, and having fun.

Our seasonal cards and letters are now in a pile ready for sorting out and recycling, and our mistletoe (from Freecycle) is ready to be composted. We didn't produce any extra "waste". Leftover food was recreated into different dishes or frozen and there was a little extra paper for recycling.