Fall Holiday Tips:
· Have children make their own wrapping paper by designing and coloring on paper grocery bags or use old homework pages to wrap gifts. Grandparents love to see them. Sunday comics make colorful gift wrap for children's packages as do old posters, maps old sheet music, and wallpaper scraps.
· For packing consider these alternatives: Popcorn (enclose a note saying birds can eat it), biodegradable starch peanuts, used packing peanuts or bubble wrap from a previous gift, or crumpled newspapers.
· Consider buying a potted tree that can be used every season as your holiday tree or purchase your tree from a tree farm rather than cutting one in the wild then use trimmed branches from your tree for decorations for wreaths. Consider buying an artificial tree that can be used year after year.
· Decorate your home, tree and centerpiece with holly, cedar, berries, cranberries, popcorn, fruits and nuts, all of which can be composted or used for bird food after use.
· To add a special touch to your decorating consider using memorabilia such as a child's first shoe or teething ring, old jewelry (restring if needed), mementos from vacations, small stuffed animals and toys, holiday card ornaments, miniature toy cars, cookie cutters, dressed up dolls, or edible cookie ornaments.
· Purchase your Thanksgiving cooking items in bulk quantities and use the extra for your Christmas menus, this eliminates extra trips to the grocery store and reduces excess packaging. Practice portion control when planning how much food to purchase.
· When inviting guests to your Thanksgiving feast, ask them to bring reusable containers to take leftovers home.
· Make your Thanksgiving meal special by using china and cloth napkins instead of disposal paper ones or borrow or rent dishes, napkins, cups and saucers, tablecloths & glasses.
· Consider gifts that keep on giving such as a battery charger and rechargeable batteries, a perpetual calendar, or an erasable message board. Gift certificates for movies, theaters, or restaurants are also "waste-free" gifts.
· Buy durable toys made from wood or metal so they can be passed down (become collectables) to others.
· Give two gifts in one by using baskets, scarves, or pillowcases to wrap gifts.
· Save gift boxes bows and ribbon to use next year.
· Adorn your gifts with these items: reusable items such as hair bows, ornaments, shoe laces, neckties, toys, bows and holiday cards cut up from previous years, scrap fabrics, lace yarn, rickrack and seam tape, scarves, combinations of beads and buttons, and dried or silk flowers.
· Keep the fronts of old Christmas cards to use as nametags, bookmarkers, dinner place cards or postcards.
· Purchase larger rolls of film. They are cheaper and reduce waste.
· Use Christmas stockings to wrap small gifts in, they can reused year after year.
· Any kitchen gift can be wrapped in a colorful towel. Kitchen utensils can pop out of an oven mitt.
New Years Day
· Start the New Year off with a "bang" by making waste reduction your number one New Year's resolution. Commit to purchasing longer lasting products such as florescent light bulbs and rechargeable batteries. You will save money and have less trash to get rid of.
· Score big when watching the Super Bowl by eliminating disposable plates and cups from your "tail-gate" party. Use cloth napkins in team colors to add fun to your meal as you cheer for your favorite team.
· Start a magazine club with your co-workers or neighbors. You can cut your subscriptions in half by swapping issues with other people. You'll save money, enjoy more magazines and cut back on trash at the same time.
· Don't let January's wintry weather fool you, spring is just around the corner. Register for one of the County's landscaping workshops.
4th of July
· Declare your Independence for a "waste-free" celebration by boycotting use of disposable items such as paper plates and cups at your holiday cookout.
· Lawn grooming for your holiday cookout is a breeze when mowers, weed eaters and hedge trimmers are kept in tip-top shape. Regular maintenance prolongs the life of yard equipment, ensures maximum performance and reduces air pollution.
· Need extra picnic tables, chairs, or even an industrial size barbecue grill? Consider borrowing or renting items that you will use only occasionally.
· Cleaning up after barbecuing is easy and toxic-free. After the charcoal has cooled, clean the grill by placing wet newspapers on the racks, close the lid and wait for an hour. Rub the newspapers across the racks. No need to scrub or to use special cleaning products.
Halloween
· Convert empty paint cans into jack-o-lanterns by spray painting the outside orange and hammering holes for the eyes and mouth. Use several different size cans and cluster them together for a spooky effect.
· Compost fresh pumpkin jack-o-lanterns after using them for your Halloween decorations.
· Want a trick-or-treat costume that is really different? Make your own by using items found around the house.
· Donate outgrown costumes to someone else to enjoy.
· Use rechargeable batteries in your Halloween flashlight.
Parties
· Have clearly marked recycling containers at your party for your guests to recycle their cans and bottles.
· Encourage your host and hostess to recycle and reuse bows, wrapping paper, cans, glass, etc.
· Point out ways your party demonstrates waste reduction and recycling to spread the word. · When hosting an event such as a wedding or family reunion, consider using the event planner to encourage a "green" event.
Thoughtful Gift Ideas
Consider giving gifts this year that are not resource-consuming. Avoid the trap of "How much should I spend?" Some of the most appreciated and meaningful gifts are those we make ourselves. Here are some thoughtful ideas:
· Look for gifts that are unpackaged or minimally packaged, without unnecessary plastic wrap or cardboard backing.
· Evaluate gifts for simplicity and durability.
· Buy durable gifts with long warranties.
· Know the store's return policy and include tags or receipts for easier exchange or return.
· Consider if your gift is environmentally friendly by asking, Is it safe for children? Is it reusable or recyclable or made from recycled materials.
· Help others recycle: give a can crusher, set of recycling bins or a recycling cart.
· Draw names for gift giving or share the cost of a gift with a sibling or friend.
· Give an adventure (a ride in a hot air balloon or train).
· Make a giant edible cookie card with a holiday greeting written in the icing.
· Give the makings of a garden: seeds, gloves, tools, compost.
· Create a family recipe book.
· Give yourself and your family time to simply enjoy the holidays and each other.
· Consider giving season tickets to a sporting event.
· Membership to a museum or nonprofit organization.
· Theater tickets.
· Free baby-sitting service.
· A short class or seminar on a favorite topic.
· Diaper service for a month for new parents.
· Donate to an environmental fund in someone else's honor to your favorite charity or non-profit agency (request that an acknowledgment be sent to the honoree).
· Magazine subscription to a favorite environmental magazine.
· Reusable lunch bag.
· Refillable pens.
· Energy saving florescent light fixture or bulb.
· Unbleached, 100 % cotton dish towels or sheets.
· Reusable coffee or tea mug.
· Gift basket filled with non-hazardous household cleaners along with a book on safe natural alternatives to household hazardous products.
· An old tricycle, bicycle or other piece of furniture, fixed up and refinished to pass along as and heirloom.
· Compost bin.
· Reusable food storage containers.
· Recycled textile or canvas shopping bag.
· Cloth napkins and tablecloths.
· House plants.
· Solar watch or calculator.
· Reusable razors.
· Durable hand tools.
· Quilts and comforters.
· Personalized "coupons" for a night off from dish duty or a foot massage, or something else helpful.
· Bird houses (Martin, Bat or Bluebird.)
· Gourmet diner for a busy couple.
· Bird feeder and seed.
