Tips for the Holiday Season
When buying gifts this holiday season, think green. Remember to reduce, reuse, recycle, and rebuy for a healthier, happier holiday. Here are a few suggestions:
- Manufactured backyard composters
- Trees and plants- preferably native and drought resistant
- Birdfeeders and seed
- Polar fleece garments
- Wind up radios and flashlights
- Sturdy canvas or mesh bags
- Reusable lunch bags
- Tire mulch
- Gifts of time like babysitting, housecleaning, dog walking, plant watering, and yard work
- Donations to worthy causes like animal shelters, environmental groups, etc.
- Tickets to shows and museums or gift certificates for spas and restaurants
- Gift certificates to health food stores
- Recycled content note paper
- Recycled content picnic table or bench
- Homemade baked goods like breads, jams, cookies and candies packaged in reusable tins, baskets, jars, decorative bags or boxes
- Homemade gifts using materials you have on hand like birdfeeders, shopping bags, purses, puppets, picture frames, etc.
- Stocking stuffers for healthy cosmetics, food, lotions, personal care products, a Preserve Toothbrush (made of recycled yogurt containers), pens and pencils made of recycled currency, denim or corn starch
Wrapping paper can be made from the comics in the Sunday paper, maps, magazines, calendars, or a host of other things. Be creative and don't forget to save it and reuse it from year to year.
Other waste reduction tips:
- Buy reusable coffee filters
- Buy rechargable batteries and recharge when necessary
- Reuse containers that food has come in for bulk items, or to bring a lunch to school or work
- Purchase items that last
- Shop locally and reuse bags
- Donate items you no longer need or want to charitable organizations or place them on Mat-Ex or Freecycle
- Organize a bottle and can drive and donate the proceeds to charity
- Donate used ink jet cartridges and cell phones to organizations that accept them and donate to charity
- Use packing peanuts made of corn starch instead of polystyrene
- Think before you throw anything away. And always reduce, reuse, and recycle.
