Rejoice, Recycle, Reduce and Reuse During the Holidays

Eight Great Ways to Have an Eco-Centric Seasonal Celebration

Does your love for the environment have you dreaming of a GREEN Christmas this year?  If so, be sure to incorporate the following tips from your friends at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful into your holiday celebrations…

It’s the Thought That Counts: When it comes to gift-giving, it truly is the thought that counts. Instead of investing in gifts that are likely to end up at the back of a closet or (gasp) in a landfill somewhere, purchase gifts that you know will be put to good use and/or cherished for years to come. You can always take it one step further and purchase gifts that are made from recycled materials, are manufactured in an environmentally way or from which a portion of the proceeds go to help wildlife or the environment.

Over the River and Through the Woods to your Local Store: While internet sales are on the rise and cybershopping is all the rage, ordering gifts online means they’ll have to be shipped. If they have to get from Walla Walla, Washington to Lawrenceville, Georgia just imagine the vehicle pollution that would entail. Driving to a favorite local boutique or gift shop leaves a much smaller carbon footprint, AND supports a local small business at the same time.

It’s a Wrap:  While most wrapping paper can be recycled and many are made from recycled paper, there are some – particularly the shiny, metallic kind – that cannot be recycled and are more likely to wind up in a landfill. Consider becoming extra creative where your gift wrapping is concerned this year. Decorate pillowcases with buttons, bows and fabric paint to use year after year. Choose gifts that don’t necessarily NEED to be wrapped – a big fabric bow that you can use repeatedly might be all you need.

Support Your Local Fa-La-La-La-Farmers:  Gwinnett County and the surrounding area are filled with excellent local farms. Not only could you find your Christmas tree there, but you could also pick up some fresh produce to include in your holiday feast – from squash casserole to homemade pumpkin pie.

Let There Be Light:  String your Christmas tree with energy efficient LED lights this year. As a result of using less energy than conventional bulbs, they’ll save you money on your electric bill. Another great way to make your holiday lighting even more eco-friendly is to put them on a timer so that they automatically turn off after several hours.

Home for the Holidays: This year, you may want to resist the urge to travel – cutting down on carbon emissions from driving or flying to visit with family or enjoy an impromptu vacation. If you DO travel, try to select a hotel or resort that practices environmentally conscious measures or features an LEED-certified design. If you rent a car, see if there’s an eco-friendly model on the lot.

Breathe New Life into a Grand Old Tree: Once the holidays have come to an end, be sure to drop your live Christmas tree off at one of our Bring One for the Chipper drop-off locations at fire stations throughout Gwinnett County between December 26, 2017 through January 15, 2018. For a full listing of locations, be sure to visit our website. We’ll be collecting trees between through 2018. On January 27, 2018, we’ll play host to our popular Bring One for the Chipper event – where all of the collected trees will be chipped into mulch for use on government grounds and in parks throughout the county.

Give a Gift that Keeps Giving: Donations to an eco-focused nonprofit like Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful support our wide variety of initiatives and programs – helping us educate a new generation of environmental stewards, advocate on behalf of the local environment, and motivate local citizens just like you to take action and keep our community clean and beautiful. Donate to GCB today!

From all of us here at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, we wish you and yours a Happy Holiday Season
and all the very best in the New Year!

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