20 tips on how to make your winter celebration eco-friendly

BY MICHAEL ANTHONY

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year: Stockings hung with care, tinsel strewn upon every branch, wrapped presents with perky bows on top…ostentatious ornamentation at its finest. And while the glitz and glamour make our merriment bright, it also leaves us knee deep in a heap of post-holiday trash.

This year, don’t have Mother Nature seeing red; instead, go green at your next holiday soiree. Try enacting these simple steps for an Earth-healthy party that will have your guests emerald with envy.

Before the Party… Invite with Evite!

While a snail mail party invitation might warm your holiday heart, the trash it leaves behind warms the icecaps of our poles. Instead, use a free and paper-free online service like Evite to get the word out. (You’ll also save on postage and have an easier time of tracking RSVP’s.)

Bag it up!

When shopping for your ever-important holiday needs, bring your own reusable bags to schlep home your goods. Trader Joe’s and Ralph’s actually offer monetary incentives for those who self-bag. And besides, you know your Louis Vuitton shopping tote looks so much cuter than those little anti-Earth plastic baggies.

$pend your green on green!

Put your money where your intentions are. Do your research and only buy from companies that are pro-green and use recycled products. Whole Foods Market, S.C. Johnson, DuPont, and Bayer were all voted as some of the most environmentally friendly of 2007.

Forgo frivolous décor!

When my mother decorates for the holidays, it looks like the Hallmark clearance rack has thrown up on our abode. Cut down on the cutouts, streamers, balloons, and anything else that will be trashed come December 26th.

Light bright with energy-efficient lights!

Excess holiday lighting adds $50-$100 to the average American’s November/December energy bill; so cut the cord and unplug. But if you simply must decorate, use lower wattage bulbs, less bulbs per string, and less strings per square foot. Also, be sure to set a timer to regulate usage.

Unearth the faux green greenery!

Although everyone loves the smell of a freshly cut Christmas tree, no one likes the burning of carbon dioxide in their lungs. This year, adorn your home with a fake tree. They’re more sanitary, easier to clean up, and typically look nicer. And although they cost more upfront, they can be reused year after year.

During the Party…John Hancock your cup!

As guests arrive at your soiree, issue them a single drinking glass and a marker. Have them decorate their cup, being sure to add their name. Encourage them to reuse this glass throughout the night, instead of taking a fresh cup with each new libation.

Out your “Bottles & Cans” bin!

It’s a dirty job, but we all know that a trashcan is a party necessity. Proudly put out a recycling bin alongside your disposal container. Clearly label it so that guests know to drop their bottles, cans, and other reprocessable goods into the pro-green basket.

Keep a hand rag handy!

Party fouls and merrymaking go hand in hand. But instead of cleaning up spills with paper towels, keep ready a reusable rag. Not only can you rectify multiple messes with the same cloth, but it can also be washed and reused at future gatherings.

Green elephant!

Many holiday parties have a traditional “White Elephant” gifting event, but this year turn that Big Albino Mammal an un-greedy green. Ask your guests to exchange eco-friendly presents, such as having a tree planted in someone’s name or a set of LED light bulbs. It’s practical, responsible, and much less tacky than the typical sex toys and Michael Bolton CDs that are usually traded.

Utilize reusable wrappings!

When gifting, wrap your presents in trappings such as gift bags and holiday boxes (perhaps accented with a fresh sprig of something green, like mistletoe or rosemary). Unlike wrapping paper, these can be reused in future gift givings. Also, forgo bows and ribbons. They may be pretty, but they’re soon-to-be excess garbage.

Encourage electronic photography!

A picture is worth a thousand words, but Polaroid waste and disposable cameras make for a lot of throwaway trash. Instead, encourage your guests to take digital photographs. Uploading them to the web after the party also allows for easy and paper free sharing with all of the party’s attendees.

Doggie-bag style leftovers!

If you find yourself with excess food and drink, encourage guests to take home a to-go bag. After all, you can only eat so many cheese cubes and sugar cookies alone. You’ll end up throwing away half of it and be unable to fit into your True Religion jeans come New Years.

Tupper-where?

For the leftovers that you decide to keep, store them not with tinfoil and plastic baggies but with Tupperware. It works just as well, is economically wise in the long run, and can be used time and time again. (Besides, it just looks prettier in the fridge.)

After the Party…Get creative with “trash”!

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and that couldn’t be more true than when it comes to holiday cleanup. Can you use that cranberry juice jug as a coin collector in your closet? Maybe you can turn that fancy champagne bottle into a flower vase. Not all garbage is created equal, so look at it with a creative eye before loading up the dumpster.

Condense & compact!

For what you simply must throw away, collapse before tossing. Boxes can be broken down and cups can be crushed. Make a game out of seeing how much garbage you can fit into a single recycled plastic bag. (How’s that for fun-fun-fun at its greenest!)

Make some cent$!

Many area grocery stores buy back aluminum cans and glass bottles at 5-10 cents apiece, depending on their size. So make yourself a little extra post-party dough, and haul your CRV containers to the nearest Ralph’s. You might just be able to buy something pretty for your good green self.

Reuse warm welcomes!

Save any holiday cards that you may receive. Next year, you can cut the covers into homemade Christmas ornaments. (Think of it as green arts and crafts.)

Save H20!

When cleaning an outdoor party area, do not hose it down. Instead, use a hand broom. Also, allow your dishes to soak before washing. This will reduce water use, which is important as California is currently in the middle of an H20-needs crisis.

After the After-Party…Give thanks in person!

Say no thanks to Thank You cards. Express your gratitude for a bash well partied either via e-mail or in person. You’ll save on postage and paper (while avoiding a nasty case of carpel tunnel).

This holiday season give the gift that keeps on giving. Go green and stay Earth-smart all your years through.