Do you know how much more trash a household puts out during the holidays? 

Think about all the holiday cards, letters, wasted food from all those parties, gift wrapping, bows, the packages and bags the gifts were purchased in.  According to the EPA, the amount of household garbage increases from four to five million tons around the holidays.  That’s an extra one million tons per year, 25 percent more!

As I have mentioned before, trash is big money.  The Town of Westford pays for every single ton of trash that is disposed.  More trash means a higher trash bill that month.  With budget concerns looming, try to do your part to reduce the town's budget.

Besides, now that you have some greener gifts, you don’t want to undo your efforts with a bunch of wasted wrapping.  Of course, there is always eco-friendly gift wrap, possibly made from post-consumer recycled paper.  But there are so many other great ways to wrap a gift without using any purchased gift wrap.

• Unusual wrappings - Use the comics section of the newspaper, old magazines, old maps or Children’s artwork.  It all makes for an interesting looking gift.
• Paper grocery bags - Have the kids decorate a used paper grocery bag and use that as wrapping.  Or wrap the gift first, then let them draw a picture for the decoration.
• Glass jars – Empty glass spaghetti or jelly jars can make great containers.  Leave them clear and decorate the top or decoupage scraps of tissue paper on the jar for a cool effect.
• Furoshiki – This is a traditional Japanese method of folding cloth into gift wrapping.  Use leftover fabric and it's way green.
• Cereal boxes – Any empty cardboard food box can make great gift wrapping.  Use them as is if the size fits, or try an internet search for a pattern to make a gift box or gift bag.  You could decorate the box or leave as is.
• Think outside the box – Part of the gift could act as the wrapping.  A scarf or table runner could be used as the wrapping.  A large pot for the cook or an extra tote bag for new parents.
• Toilet paper or paper towel tube – These could be just the right size for smaller items and they can be painted or decorated easily.  My father -in-law is famous for putting candy in these.
• Gift bags - These are great options too as they can be reused for years.

As for the gift tags, use another cereal box or the fronts of old Holiday cards. Punch a hole and tie with some yarn or ribbon.