Tipton County, Indiana

Holiday Trees

• Choose a reusable tree. An artificial tree can be used over and over again an doesn't have to be discarded.
• Mulch or Compost your holiday tree if you don't have a artificial tree.
• But a live tree and replant it after the holidays.
• Put timers on outdoor and indoor holiday lights so that they turn off on their own.
• Use reusable decorations on your tree or make homemade tree ornaments from things you already have around the house or from materials in the backyard like leaves, twigs, bark, and pine cones.

Holiday Parties

• Choose reusable cloth napkins, china and glasses for holiday parties and meals instead of disposable utensils, plates or tablecloths.
• Be sure to turn down the heat before your guests arrive.  The extra body heat from your guests will warm up the room and you will save energy.
• Carefully plan the amount of food for your gathering to minimize waste.  If there are leftovers, send them home with guests or donate them to a local shelter.
• Walk to neighborhood parties or carpool to parties that are not in walking distance.

Holiday Shopping

• Bring canvas or reusable bags for all holiday shopping.
• Consolidate shopping trips and waste less gas.
• Buy quality.  Don't buy cheaply made items that do not last and end up getting thrown away.
• Combine your purchases into one big bag rather than getting a new bag at every store you visit.

Gift Wrapping, Gifts & Cards

• Buy gift wrap that contains recycled material and avoid buying the foil or plastic coated paper that cannot be recycled or reused.  Don't forget the funny papers make great wrapping paper and great conversational piece.
• Save and reuse gift bags and bows from last year.
• Instead of wrapping gifts in paper, be creative.  Use decorative gift boxes, reusable containers, scarves, or fabric remnants.
• Make gift tags from old greeting cards.
• Give gift Certificates.  They save wrapping paper and eliminate returned merchandise.
• Give non-material gifts such as savings bonds, money, or tickets to a game, play or concert.
• Give a gift of Time. Nothing costs  less or more than spending time with friends and loved ones.
• Donate unwanted gifts, old or used clothing and toys to a local shelter or charity.
• For electronic and portable gifts that require batteries, buy rechargeable batteries to go with them.

Trimming Holiday waste

• It is estimated that between the Thanksgiving and the New Year holidays, the amount of garbage in the U.S. increases by an extra Million Tons Per Week.
• Over 38,000 miles of ribbon is thrown out each year.  Since the Earth's circumference is 25,000 miles, that means that you could tie a bow around the earth with ribbon waste!!