Monthly Archives: December 2011

Decorations, guests, presents, eggnog and December 25th have all come and gone and now we are just left with the holiday memories, leftovers and general debris. We know to save our bows and wrapping paper for next year, to keep boxes and packaging for future presents and to reuse what we can for other creative projects. If you have an artificial tree, you’re beginning to think of taking off the tinsel and ornaments and packing it safely away for next year. But if you bought a tree from the lot, you may be a little lost as to what to do with it.

Placing your tree on the side of the road and crossing your fingers is not the best way to go. Earth 911 has put together the most comprehensive list to date of local recycling centers, reaching out to every city in America with a population of over 30,000. Remember, that just because someone hauls your Christmas tree away, does NOT mean it has been properly recycled; it may still end up in a landfill.

Many cities have curb-side pick-up options, but most have size and condition requirements (all trees must be void of lights, ornaments, tinsel, etc). In other cases, local volunteer organizations, such as the boy scouts, will pick up trees for a small donation. If all else fails, you can cut up the tree yourself and place It in your organic waste trash bin.

Other ideas on how to keep your tree out of a landfill include placing it in your backyard as a bird feeder/refuge, using small branches in your fish tank or aquarium as fish habitats and feeding areas or chipping it yourself and turning it into mulch for your garden.

Just remember that whatever you decide to do with your tree, make sure to do your research to keep it out of a landfill and be timely about it. Most recycling programs and centers only operate through the first weeks of January. After that, you may be subject to higher fees, shorter operating hours or shutdowns all together.

This time of year we are all looking for ways to save time and money so that we can spend those precious commodities on our friends and family. However, for a lot of us, there won’t be enough of either to satisfy everyone. So as we approach the season of gift giving, party attending and endless amounts of over eating, over spending and being overly tired, we offer these simple, fun and, best of all, eco-friendly gift options for those special people in your life.

A virtually waste-free gift and everyone’s favorite is the gift certificate to a restaurant, spa or retailer. This gift not only allows the giftee to purchase what she wants without the stigma of thoughtless cash but a gift certificate to a nail salon, masseuse, day spa or any other service helps other Americans stay employed. Image that! A gift that is sure to satisfy, is eco-friendly and keeps fellow Americans employed; is there anything better?

A baking extravaganza for the ages is a great way to show everyone on your list that you care. Baking is a fun activity to do solo, but can also lay the foundation for a new holiday tradition with a certain friend or family member. Additionally, you can make enough cookies, fudge and candy to give to everyone; bring a plate of cookies to the office, give a small tray to each of your friends or ship them to anyone around the globe for a taste of home. Even if your baking isn’t on par with Betty Crocker, the waste is biodegradable for carbon-free lifecycle.

Spend time with the one you love. Suggest to a close friend, significant other or family member that you spend the day together at a theme park, go to dinner or just go to happy hour together. This way, you can both stay within the confines of your respective budgets, you don’t have to participate in the awkward gift exchange and there is no garbage to throw away afterwards.

Regift! As long as you don’t regift to the same person or within the same social circle, there is no reason why that second toaster needs to sit in your garage any longer. This gift is of zero cost to you and it saves the refuse from a new gift from a landfill.

Got a friend or co-worker with a dreary office or cubicle? Add a little life to their work situation with a living plant or flower. It will give them something to take care of at work and can do wonders for a world surrounded by concrete. When the plant gets too big for a desk or workspace, it can be planted outside for everyone to enjoy.

So this holiday season, as you’re racking your brain for the perfect gift for everyone on your list, remember the true meaning of Christmas – giving thanks for your blessings. Christmas is not about how much “stuff” you get or how much it cost, but about the meaning behind it and its value as an expression how important someone is in your life. Making a scrapbook, cooking dinner or simply spending time together are gifts that anyone will appreciate.

The holiday season is a time for us to remember how much our friends and family mean to us. We take the time to catch up with the important people in our lives, whether by organizing special dinners, writing Christmas cards or exchanging gifts. This year though, take the time to be thankful for the planet that provides us with food to eat, water to drink and air to breathe. Here are some ideas for Christmas decorating that are fun for the whole family and don’t waste our finite resources.
Christmas Trees may seem like a waste of resources. However, there are ways to make your tree an eco-statement, rather than an eco-disaster. By purchasing a real tree from a small-scale sustainable grower you are actually helping the environment offset carbon emissions. Christmas trees transform carbon into oxygen while they grow and can continue to do so if you replant the tree after Christmas. In fact, returning your Christmas tree to the Earth in your backyard could become your new post-holiday family tradition.

Replace tinsel. Hanging chains made of brightly colored paper scraps is not only a fun family activity that evokes memories of more traditional Christmases, it is also unique way to decorate your home and recycle old paper. Popcorn and cranberry string are also perfect garland substitutes that can be placed in the compost pile after Christmas. String together beads or buttons for interesting tree accoutrements rather than non-biodegradeable tinsel.

Use old scraps of material to create bows for decorations or for present toppers. Instead of throwing out those sequined pants from the 80s or that beautiful prom dress that fit you in high school, cut it up and refashion it into something new. Cut shiny, sparkley or bright fabric into strips to tie up gifts, to decorate chair backs or to tie on the tree.

Convert to LED. These days LED lights use 80-90% less electricity than their counterparts and are becoming more affordable. By absorbing the one time cost of switching over, not only will you save money on your electricity bill during the holidays, but you will also be doing your part to conserve energy. LED lights now come in most colors and styles, so your holiday spirit will shine just as bright but at a fraction of the cost.