December 2021 Sustainability Tips

I almost forgot this month’s Sustainability Tips! They’re holiday themed for December, here goes!

1. Get ready to recycle your wrapping paper! My county says “not all gift-wrapping paper or cards are recyclable. Please only place clean, plain paper-based items in the recycling cart. No metallic, plastic, or glitter/sequin adorned or foil lined items.” Save your ribbons, bows, and tissue paper for reuse. I know those wads of wrapping paper are fun to throw around after the excitement of unwrapping, but please be sure to flatten them for recycling! Check with your local municipality to confirm what they are able to accept. 
2. Need to say goodbye to old string lights? According to Treehugger.com, “aside from the indignity, there are also more concrete reasons not to discard strands of lights with your garbage. Along with glass, plastic and copper that could be recycled, for example, they often contain small amounts of lead, a toxic metal used in some polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wire coatings to boost flexibility.” There are countless ways to dispose of old lights responsibly. These days many municipalities offer recycling collections, Goodwill stores accept lights & old electronics for recycling, and some places like your local hardware store offers a discount toward new LED lights. If you prefer the convenience of online, try Holiday LEDs based in Wisconsin and get 10% off toward new LED lights. (I’m not an affiliate and receive $0 commission if you click this link or shop at Holiday LEDs. Just giving a shout out to another eco-conscious small business!)
3. Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose your live tree. Many municipalities offer live tree collection after the holidays, which allows the tree to be chipped and repurposed in playgrounds and under trees around town. You can cut off branches to use for firewood & kindling if you have a fire pit. (Pine burns hot and can be a fire hazard, so it should be carefully burned outdoors only.) If you are creative, you can also use the remaining wood in many ways, such as sliced into coasters and even ornaments for next year. Also, wildlife love to use downed trees for habitat if you happen to have space in a far corner of your yard or a local wildlife center that will accept donations.