Tips for Greener Holiday Celebrations

Make sustainable choices

• Ask guests to carpool or take other alternate transit: This saves money on gas, helps prevent air pollution and can alleviate parking issues. Check out Way to Go to find the best option for you.
• Use durable tableware: Disposable tableware like plates, cups, utensils, napkins and tablecloths create a lot of waste that goes straight to the landfill. None of it - plastic, paper or Styrofoam - is recyclable or compostable.
   

Fight food waste

• Prepare healthy portions: The Food Portion Calculator from Love Food Hate Waste will tell you how much food to purchase based on the type of food you want to serve, and the number of people who will eat it.
• Self-serve: Go buffet-style and let guests fill their own plates before seating. This will prevent undesired items from going uneaten.
• Use smaller plates: Small plates help fend off the dreaded "my-eyes-are-bigger-than-my-stomach" syndrome.
• Bring reusable containers: Ask guests to bring their own containers to take home leftovers. That keeps you from gorging on holiday food for weeks to come, and gives your guests a little something to eat the next day.
• Compost: If you have the means, compost your food scraps!
   

Recycle

• Aluminum and tin (steel) cans and plastic bottles, tubs and jars can be recycled curbside or at the nearest recycling center.
• Glass bottles and jars can be taken to a Ripple Glass drop-off bin or you can sign up for curbside pickup.
• Plastic films like retail shopping bags and product overwrap can be recycled at your local grocery store, Walmart, Target, or Lowe's.
• Styrofoam packaging that comes in those new Black Friday appliances, electronics and furniture can be recycled at Midwest Recycling Center or Atlas Molded Products. Styrofoam food and beverage containers are NOT recyclable.
• That also applies to your fast food choices during the busy shopping days to come.

Note: ALWAYS CALL AHEAD to your designated drop-off locations...as there may be complications and holiday hours that interrupt regularly scheduled services.