HOW TO HAVE A "GREEN HOLIDAY"
Holiday Ideas that Prevent Waste & Promote Recycling
REDUCE …
Earth Tip # 1: Precycle
As you start your holiday shopping, remember to PRE-CYCLE: Think before you buy.
Consider that every purchase you make will eventually be discarded; so ask yourself;
"How long will this gift last? How much space will it take in a landfill? Can it (or its
packaging) be reused or recycled?"
Look for gifts that are minimally packaged, without unnecessary plastic wrap or
cardboard backing. Avoid over-packaged products.
REUSE …
Earth Tip # 2: Wrap it Green
Wrap gifts in reusable gift bags or boxes. Reuse wrapping paper, boxes tins, ribbons
and bows from previous holidays.
Be creative with gift wrapping: Newspaper pages make unique, inexpensive wrapping
paper . Try using leftover wallpaper, selected pages from magazines, pictures from old
calendars, maps or posters, or make decorative bags out of scraps of cloth.
Other reusable or recyclable wrappings include: handkerchief or scarf, Christmas
stocking, pillow case, towel, cookie tin, coffee can, mug etc.
Protect holiday packages during shipping by using crumpled newspaper or popcorn
rather than styrene foam peanuts.
Earth Tip # 3: Environmental Gift Giving
Give environmental gifts such as a reusable canvas tote bag, cloth napkins and
tablecloth, compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Make your gifts from available, reused materials. Be creative -- bake, sew, knit or draw,
write a poem, frame a picture. Give handmade gifts, a dinner invitation or crafts such as
homemade recycled paper.
Donate to an environmental organization (like, maybe. . . Hudson Valley GREEN
Times) or give a subscription to an environmental magazine.
Gifts can be things to do, not just things to have. Create holiday memories by giving
gifts that are activities, not products, such tickets to a concert, a sporting event, an iceskating rink, or a gift certificate for dining out.
Most of all give of yourself. Give a gift certificate for an evening's baby- sitting or elder
care, or a few hours of gardening.
Earth Tip #4 Green Greetings
Send holiday greetings via postcards rather than a card that requires an envelope.
Save this year's greeting cards for reuse next holiday season. Cut off the used section
of the card -- the portion with a signature -- and reuse the front as a postcard (just don't
resend it to the same person who sent it to you!). If you prefer to send greeting cards,
be sure they're printed on recycled paper.
… and then RECYCLE!
CLOSE THE LOOP by giving gifts made of recycled materials. Look for holiday cards,
stationary and gift wrap made of recycled paper, or a doormat made from old tires.
Recycled products are increasingly available. If you don't see them on the shelf this
year request them -- maybe they'll be there next year!
Recycle foam packing chips, other packing materials and gift wrap that you receive with
presents. Check the yellow pages for "Packaging Services" – many are glad to receive
peanuts and boxes for reuse.
Cardboard boxes, wrapping paper and most holiday greeting cards can be recycled
unless they are embossed with foil.
Earth Tip #5: Holiday Greenery
Adopt an evergreen for your holiday tree. Select a live tree, roots intact. Come spring
let it acclimate, then plant it in your yard to enjoy for years to come.
Trim a tree already growing in your yard.
Use reusable decorations, or use edible/degradable garlands made of popcorn and
cranberries.
If you select a cut tree, after the holidays create a bird sanctuary by placing it outdoors
at the edge of your yard as a shelter until spring when it can easily be mulched.
Call your municipality to find out when and where they accept Christmas trees for
grinding. To assure your tree can be shredded easily, avoid single-use disposable
decorations such as tinsel, angel hair or spray snow. Tinsel must be removed before
grinding.
Choose an artificial tree that can be reused each year.
Adapted from Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency brochure and reprinted from
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater's Navigator, Nov.-Dec. 2004 and 2005.