Keeping it Green

The holiday season usually brings lots of happiness - and waste. On average Americans throw away 25 percent more garbage from Thanksgiving to New Year's than any other time, resulting in 1 million EXTRA tons of waste during those few months.

Here are 12 tips from RecycleCoach.com for a "greener" holiday season:

1. Wrap gifts with recyclable or reusable items such as newspapers, reusable cloths or tins, or brown paper bags.

2. Save ribbons, gift bags and bows: You can reuse them in future Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, or for other occasions.

3. Give the gift of experiences: Try "virtual" gifts such as movie passes or tickets to a concert instead of items that come with a lot of packaging.

4. Old Christmas cards can be reused and upcycled to make gift tags, bookmarks, coasters, keychains, Christmas tree ornaments and more.

5. Buy only the food you need: Reduce waste and plan your portions ahead of time. Stick to a shopping list, freeze leftovers, or give some away to guests.

6. Donate, sell or re-gift unwanted gifts: Sometimes you just don't want – or need – a gift that's been given to you.

7. Unwrap your gift gently: Most gift wraps are glossy, so they are not recyclable. You can save it and use it again for next year.

8. Holidays can mean collection changes for waste and recycling, so make sure you check your schedules ahead of time. The Sanders County Solid Waste Sites ARE open Sunday, Christmas Eve.

9. Use reusable knives, forks, and spoons: Disposable cutlery in the landfill can take anywhere from 10 to 100 years to decompose.

10. Ask for a wish list: Giving someone something they need or want means they're more likely to keep and treasure it, instead of throwing it out after a while.

11. Use reusable shopping bags on your shopping trips: Bring along your reusable bags and opt out of single use plastic bags (most of which end up in the trash right after).

12. Send e-cards: They are customizable, fun, and they contribute to no waste.