by Kimberly Schiller

Created on: October 12, 2008   Last Updated: October 20, 2008

The holidays are a time to give thanks and celebrate with your loved ones. Most people don't think about the waste and trash the season creates, because they don't want to put a damper on the fun and festivities. But there are easy ways to reduce the negative impact without losing the spirit. Here are some ideas to make your holidays more earth-friendly.

1) Shop on-line. Instead of driving from store to store for items that were shipped to the mall, order them on-line and have them shipped directly to you. If you're buying for someone you won't see, have the gift sent directly to them. If you do go gift shopping, use cloth bags instead of the store's disposables.

2) Reduce, reuse, and recycle when decorating. One of the great environmental lessons is: Less is more. Having the most lights, fake snow, and moving plastic figurines will not really make you happier! Use cloth bows and bunting to decorate outside. Reuse last years holiday cards by cutting out the pictures and using them as ornaments. Do not use canned snow - it can be toxic and is the poster child of over-packaging. String pine-cones and berries from your yard for garland or to fill decorative bowls. If you buy decorations, take care of them and store them properly so they'll last longer. Use a timer for your light strings to save energy.

3) Get a real tree. It may seem counterintuitive, but the real Christmas tree industry is earth-friendly. Christmas trees are a renewable resource; they are grown and harvested like any other crop, and the groves create oxygen like any other forest. There are also tree-recycling programs in most areas that will reuse your tree after the season. Fake trees are energy intensive to produce and are not biodegradable.

4) Send e-cards or holiday cards made with recycled material. For the people you send cards to out of politeness or habit, an e-card delivers the sentiment without wasting paper and fuel. For loved ones you wish to send a hand-written greeting to, look for cards that carry the recycled paper symbol.

5) Get creative with gift wrap. Wrap gifts in the comics or place them in decorative tins and baskets that can be reused. Decorate gifts with cloth ribbon, pine-cones, and strings of berries. If you do buy wrapping paper, look for a recycled product. Avoid shiny, heavy, or metallic wrap which will not biodegrade.

6) Buy gifts that introduce the recipient to earth-friendly ideas and product lines. Include rechargeable batteries and a recharger with battery-operated gifts. For people who are tough to buy for, give a gift card or make a donation in their name to avoid an unwanted gift that gathers dust or becomes trash.

7) Avoid using disposable products when entertaining. It only takes a little extra work to clean real dishes, utensils, and napkins, but it will save alot of space in the landfill.

With these tips and your own creativity, you can have a joyous and earth-friendly holiday season!

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