Many people are going green this Christmas because it not only helps the environment, but it can save you money.
Something as simple as using old newspaper to wrap gifts can save you a trip to the store. That way, you spend less on gas and you don't have to buy wrapping paper.
"People wake up the day after Christmas and their garbage cans are completely overflowing," says Waste Management Spokesperson Jordan Johnson.
So Waste Management suggests cutting back on trash. You can start by re-using newspaper. "You can read it, wrap the presents in the newspaper, and then put it in the recycling bin," explains Johnson.
Which you can't do with a lot of wrapping paper because of the ink.
If you aren't going to re-use your gift boxes, they should go straight in the recycling bin. "You can fold them flat, put them in the box and they'll be picked up," says Johnson.
You can even recycle your Christmas tree. Just put it in your backyard, and it's an instant habitat for birds and squirrels.
The green movement goes beyond trash from Christmas morning. Did you know you can recycle Styrofoam cups you use at parties? "You can actually put those in the dishwasher instead of throwing them away so you can reuse them several times," says Johnson.
As for all of those plastic shopping bags you now have at the house, they have tons of uses. Bring them back to the store for your next shopping trip, or turn them into garbage bags so you don't fill landfills with bags full of bags.
Recycling can also be a teaching tool for your kids. "It's a good holiday resolution for your family. So you can start recycling, and become more green," says Johnson.
