Our forth challenge is to use green alternatives as you wrap your gifts.

Stats show during the holidays 227,000 miles of wrapping paper get thrown in the trash.

This is enough paper to wrap around the Earth not once, not twice, but NINE times. Help reduce wrapping waste by:

  • Don't buy wrapping paper. Consider using what you have on hand. Wrap in magazines, newspaper, reused gift bags or fabric items such as scarfs, kitchen towels and gloves.

  • Ditch the Ribbon. It is estimated that over 38 thousand miles of ribbon is thrown away during the holidays. Ribbon cannot be recycled and always belongs in the trash, so consider not using at all.

  • Be Creative with Your Bows. Don't buy new ones. Bows can be reused for years, so save them year after year. Or use a branch of holly or pine, jingle bells, a cookie cutter, or a small ornament. These will give your packages a unique more festive look.

  • Get Recyclable Paper If You Must. If you do buy wrapping paper- skip the metallics and foil papers. Regular wrapping paper can be recycled by just flattening and adding in your curbside bin. But when it has metallic or foil coating, it cannot and must go in the trash.