Five New Year's Resolutions That Can Have a Direct, Green, Impact

Add a GreenLiving Focus to 2017

The holiday season is coming to an end, and New Year's Eve is only a few days away.  This year, pick out a resolution, or resolutions, that support a GreenLiving lifestyle.  Several eco-friendly resolution ideas include:

1) Pick up one piece of litter per day:  There are more than 300 million people in the United States.  If everyone in America picked up at least one piece of litter each day, that would be 300 million pieces of trash and waste that would ultimately not damage ecosystems or enter waterways.  This year, strive to not litter.

2) Recycle one can, bottle, or item per day:  Recycling can have numerous positive effects on the environment.  In 2017, strive to recycle at least one item per day.  Make the extra trip to find a recycling bin instead of tossing cans and newspapers into the trash.

Holiday Recycling: Five Do's and Do Not's

GreenLiving Tips During The Holidays

The holidays are only several days away.  For some, this is a time of giving and receiving gifts.  

This season, make sure you know what holiday gift items can be recycled and what needs to be disposed as waste.

Can the following items be recycled?  Find out here...

1) Tape: No!  Tape, and most other adhesive products, cannot be recycled.  Throw away tape and/ or put tape into a standard waste basket to dispose of it.

2) Boxes with tape: Yes!  Even though tape cannot, typically, be recycled, cardboard boxes or decorative boxes with little/ some tape on it can be recycled.  Fold boxes up to properly recycle them.

Giving Green Cheer: Five GreenLiving Gift Ideas

Eco-Friendly Gift Giving Tips

Planning to give or receive gifts this holiday season?  With only a few days left before the holidays, plan a green spin on any remaining holiday gift shopping.  Several green shopping methods include:

1) Bring Re-usable Bags: If shopping for presents in department stores or mall, remember to bring a re-usable bag instead of using a wasteful plastic bag.  Plastic bags can take more than 100 years to decompose in landfills.

2) Save Gas and Shop Online: Want to skip long lines and preserve the environment?  Save on gas and complete holiday shopping online.  If shopping in stores are preferable, try to utilize public transportation.

3) Donate Instead: Instead of a traditional gift, donate money in someone's name as their gift for the holidays.  This memorable gift will save time and resources.

Five Holiday Items That Can Be Recycled

What Holiday Items Can Be Recycled or Reused?

It's officially the holiday season: a time to plan for various holidays and/ or seasonal celebrations.  This year, add a green focus to the holidays by adopting several eco-friendly practices.  An easy way to be "green" during the holidays is to continue to recycle- several holiday items that can be recycled or reused include:

1. Decorations: Decorating for the holidays?  If properly stored, many holiday and/ or seasonal decorations can be saved and used again next year.  Examples of decorations that can be reused include: holiday lights, banners and signage, candles, and more.

2. Wrapping paper and gift packaging: Planning on buying new gift bags and gift wrap?  There might be plenty of gift bags and/ or wrapping paper left over from last year.  Designate a place in the home to store usable gift packaging.  If buying new gift bags, boxes, and wrapping paper, set the extra, unused materials aside for next year.  If receiving gifts, handle the packaging with care to recycle and reuse for next year.