Greening Your Holidays
Compost your Holiday Food Waste. Americans threw away more than 36 million tons of food in 2011. Almost all of that went to landfills, where it can decompose to produce methane, a greenhouse gas more than 20 times as potent as carbon dioxide. Composting it instead gives you rich soil for your plants and helps fight climate change. http://www2.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
Greener Christmas Trees. Buy a potted tree for your Christmas tree this year and enjoy it year-round. Or buy a balled tree and plant it after the holidays. If you do use a live Christmas tree, recycle it after the holidays instead of sending it to a landfill. Ask your local solid waste department whether they collect and mulch trees. Your town might use chippings from mulched trees for hiking trails and beachfront erosion barriers. http://www.epa.gov/waste/wycd/winter.htm
Gift Wrapping Gone Green. Be green when wrapping gifts. Reuse wrapping paper from the previous year or use recycled paper, maps, magazines, newspaper, or even packing paper from packages you receive. Also, don’t forget to save your used wrapping paper for next year. http://www.epa.gov/waste/wycd/winter.htm
Go Green with DIY Holiday Decorations. Have a create-your-own-decorations party with family and friends. Create decorations from old greeting cards or cookie dough. Make origami stars from old newspapers and garland with popcorn or cranberries. Or try making potpourri made from spices such as cinnamon and cloves. http://www.epa.gov/waste/wycd/winter.htm