Five Ways to Have a Greener Holiday Season

Submitted by Shelene Treptow

The St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership has several tips to help residents reduce their impact on the environment.

• Instead of wrapping gifts, try reusable paper bags or cloth bags. Even brown paper, old maps or artwork is a more sustainable alternative to wrapping paper. Decorate plain brown paper with markers instead of ribbon.
• Buy a live holiday tree that's native to the area and replant it after the holidays. Decorate homes with biodegradable items like cranberries and popcorn. Use LED lights instead of normal bulbs.
• Use traditional dishes, flatware and glasses instead of plastic or styrofoam.
• Give experiences instead of items, like tickets to a play, music lessons, or restaurant gift certificates. Donate to a nonprofit organization in someone's honor.
• Choose gifts that are made with recycled materials such as canvas tote bags or refillable thermos bottles. Make a homebaked treat and provide it as a gift.