Paper bags, paper plates, fancy baskets, party bags, styrofoam cups, individually-wrapped candies, packing material, disposable themed party favors…

These products tend to fill many garbage bags every year the day after Purim, an unfortunate by-product of the Mitzva of Mishloach Manot. The following suggestions will help recall the spirit of the day while reducing the amount of waste traditionally associated with this Mitzva.

 

Save Resources

Give your required Mishloach Manos, then give a Canfei Nesharim Purim Donation card to the rest of your friends and relatives.

One of our members created a beautiful card that can be printed front and back, four to a page. The files are in PDF Format.

Purim Card Front Page l Purim Card Back Page

Haven’t donated yet this year? Make Your Donation to Canfei Nesharim.

 

Eco-friendly Tips

Still want to give goodies to your friends? Take a look at these 10 tips for an Environmentally-Sound Purim (reproduced by permission of Sviva Israel.org)  and try the following suggestions to reduce your impact on the environment.
Reduce:
– Avoid individually wrapped candies. No one needs 50 Reeses peanut butter cups and 65 Kit Kats a month before Pesach.
– Make smaller Mishloach Manot with a couple more expensive (or homemade) goodies. It costs the same or less as a lot of junk, and is often appreciated more.

Reuse:

– Use cheap Tupperware to hold Mishloach Manot. It looks nice, is reusable, and will keep your baked goods fresh without using plastic bags. Check Odd Lot or your local 99 cent store.
– Use paper decorated by your children, comics, and old wrapping paper to package your treats. Your kids can even decorate the paper while you cook and prepare. It will keep them busy, add a personal touch, and reuse resources.

Recycle:
– Divide all packaging material received into paper, plastic, and tin. Whatever can not be reused should be recycled appropriately. Check with your local municipality for what can be recycled.

 

Wishing everyone a Chag Sameah, and an enviromentally-friendly holiday!!

 

Much thanks to Abby Singer for creating Purim donation cards. 

– Originally posted in “On Eagles’ Wings” February 8th 2007