Did you know that decorations, wrapping paper and even greeting cards can have a negative impact on the environment? The excesses of year-end holidays add about 25 percent more waste to landfills than during any other period, according to a study by Stanford University.

Here are some tips to help you celebrate the holidays more sustainably:

  1. Bring along reusable bags of different sizes when shopping for food and gifts.
  2. Opt for unflocked, unglittered, natural elements when decorating, such as a real Christmas tree and a natural wreath on the door. All can be recycled into mulch.
  3. Try kraft paper, reusable gift boxes and bags to wrap packages instead of “traditional” wrapping paper, as most wrapping paper has an inseparable plastic film to the paper, making the material unrecyclable.
  4. Choose wisely when it comes to greeting cards, as cards/envelopes decorated with foil and/or glitter are not recyclable.
  5. Opt for cloth napkins and non-disposable dishes and utensils at holiday dinners.

Website: December Richardson Today (Article on pg. 6)