by Debra Frank

Created on: December 29, 2008   Last Updated: January 20, 2009

Recycle, reuse, and reduce. Words to live by if you want to do your share to care for our planet. Unfortunately too many of us forget about our impact on the world during the holidays. According to the EPA, the average amount of household garbage increases by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day! There are still things you can do this year to lessen your contribution to the holiday garbage heap.

Recycle

Not all holiday items can be recycled by your community waste management program. Many communities do not recycle common holiday items such as:

* Ribbons & Bows

* Ornaments

* Lights

* Metallic & dark colored Christmas wrap

* Bubble packing, Styrofoam, & foam peanuts

* Disposable plates, cups, & plastic eating utensils

Check with your community to see which items they recycle. In some areas, there may be private companies that recycle items that your community program cannot. Your community recycling program person should know if there is anything like this available in your area.

Holidayleds.com has a Christmas lighting recycling program. You can send your used lights to them for recycling. Not only do they recycle the lights, but they will give you a coupon for a 15% discount on a purchase from their website.

Reuse

With a bit of care, creativity, and storage space; many holiday items can be reused for their original purpose or transformed into something new and unique.

Ideas for reusing Christmas cards:

* Use the fronts for Christmas postcards for next year

* Cut gift tags and book marks

* Collage & decoupage supplies

* Origami projects

* Creating Christmas Ornaments

If you do not wish to reuse the cards, it shouldn't be hard to find a senior center or church group that would welcome the donation of your used cards.

Wrapping paper, too, can be used to create many of the fore mentioned projects and some other fun ideas for its reuse include:

* Book covers

* Scrapbook pages

* Matting for framing photos & artwork

* Placemats

* Box, cupboard, and drawer liners

* Packing filler material for shipping items

If your yard is accommodating, re-use live trees, wreaths, and garland as backyard habitat for wild things. Each year, we place our "used" tree in the backyard, along with any wreaths, boughs, or natural garlands. Our neighborhood birds love it and usually we have several nesting in the wreaths and tree in the springtime. Once the nestlings have flown the coop, we use the dried items as camp firewood. You can also check and see if your local park department or nature preserve would like to use your tree for wood chips or habitat.

Reduce

Plan ways that you can reduce the amount of garbage you create next holiday season. Purchase gifts that are re-usable and earth friendly. Consider the amount of packaging. Think about doing away with the use of disposable plates and utensils. Use fun items for gift wrapping such as towels and pillowcases. For more information on recycling, reducing, and reusing for the holidays and throughout the year, you can explore earth911.com and www.epa.gov.

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