Here’s some tips to make your holidays merry, bright, and green:
  • If you use store-bought wrapping paper to wrap your gifts, consider choosing the kind with recycled content (the more post-consumer content, the greener!).
  • Save and reuse wrapping paper, gift boxes and bags. They fold easily and take little room to store in a closet or cabinet. Convenient for impromptu gift giving year-round!
  • Research options and shop smart! Look to buy products with the least amount of packaging possible. Why pay extra for useless, extra packaging materials?
  • With all the extra cooking you may be doing, avoid sewer back-ups by disposing of used cooking oils and fats properly. Although they might seem like liquids when you’re done cooking, fats, oils and grease (FOG) can solidify when poured down the drain, building up on the walls of sewer pipes and blocking the plumbing. This can lead to sewer backups in homes, onto streets, and into local waterways. Pouring hot water or soap down the drain will not help – it can only break up the grease temporarily. Soak up small amounts of cool, hardened fats and grease with paper towels and place them in the organics bin. While liquid FOG is not a hazardous waste item, you can recycle liquid oils and grease for free at the hazardous waste drop-off at the Yolo County Landfill, every Friday and Saturday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Visit YoloCounty.org for more information.
Find more tips on the Holiday Recycling webpage and 10 Ways to Green Your Holidays article.

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