The holiday season for many is a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness, but it's also a time when our environmental footprint tends to increase. As we celebrate together, it’s important to consider our environmental impact and take steps to reduce it.

In the US, the largest category of waste in landfills is food, with household garbage increasing by 25% during the holidays. This week, many families in the US will be gathering at the dinner table to celebrate everything they are thankful for. Each year, American families waste an estimated 305 million pounds of food from just Thanksgiving dinner. When we waste food, we also waste the energy, land, labor, and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport, and package the food. As you plan for your upcoming holiday gatherings, consider how you can take steps, both small and large, to reduce your impact.

When planning your celebration, make sure to seriously consider the number of guests attending to avoid over-preparing. While shopping, resist the urge to buy that "emergency" pie, snack, etc. and only purchase what you know you can use. Also, be sure to discuss and coordinate dishes with your guests in advance to avoid repeat or extra dishes. If you’re not sure how much food you need for the number of guests you are expecting, you could try Save the Food’s Guest-imator Tool at www.savethefood.com/guestimator.

Other great ways to reduce your gathering’s footprint is to search for locally-sourced ingredient options, choose reusable serving options, and ask guests to bring reusable containers for leftovers. When cleaning up, remember to ask guests what they enjoyed eating, rather than loading them up with a little bit of everything, so you can avoid those leftovers reaching someone else’s trash.

Check out our Pinterest for some great recipes to use-up leftover ingredients and consider donating boxed, canned, and bagged foods to the Anne Arundel County Food Bank. Every little bit you do to reduce food waste helps!

The end of November is a popular time to start decorating for the upcoming winter holidays. If you’re planning to decorate with real greenery, like fresh-cut trees, wreaths, garlands, etc., consider purchasing from local small businesses at Crofton Southbound Produce (right across the street from The Beacon), the Crofton Farmers Market, Y Worry Farm, & Bowie Farmer’s Market.

Approximately 40 million holiday trees are sold in the US each year. Recycled trees, wreaths, and garlands can be used for mulch, soil erosion barriers, and other environmentally-friendly uses! In fact, Anne Arundel County recycles trees and greenery at three recycling centers, one of which is only 10 mins from The Beacon:

Central Recycling Center
389 Burns Crossing Road, Severn, MD 21144
Monday – Friday, 8:00AM – 4:00PM

Don’t forget to also recycle these items this holiday season!: wrapping paper, tissue paper, greeting cards, catalogs/magazines, shipping/gift boxes, and newspapers. Additionally, wrapping paper can be reused as tissue paper for bagged presents, used in crafts, shredded into confetti for a New Year’s party, or used as packing material to keep fragile decorations safe.

This holiday season, let the spirit of sustainability guide your choices as you celebrate. Small changes in your habits and traditions can have a significant positive impact. May your holidays be both merry and green!

The post Holiday Sustainability appeared first on The Beacon at Waugh Chapel Blog.

As the weather warms up and flowers begin to bloom, it's a reminder that spring is here. The new season, and the home refreshes that often come with it, provide an excellent opportunity to set sustainability goals and start new habits!

Do you have any sort of spring cleaning routine to welcome the new season? As you gear up for spring cleaning, consider the impact of the products used. There are many greener cleaning products on the market that are free from harmful chemicals, making them safer for you, your pets, little ones in the house, and everything they come in contact with when disposed of. Keep an eye-out for products that are plant-based, biodegradable, and eco-friendly, or consider a DIY option. Click here for a place to start.

An awesome idea for adding some literal green to your daily routine is to grow a mini garden on your balcony or patio. Not only will this provide you with the joy of live plants in your space, but, if you choose edible plants, such as herbs or small produce, you can enjoy using them in your meal or cocktail prep. Flowering plants also give pollinators a place to stop as they pass through our community. Check out some ideas on our Pinterest to get started with your balcony garden.

Spring is a popular time for shopping, as the changing weather and season motivates us to look for new clothing and home décor. However, it's important to consider the impact of new purchases on the environment. Itching for some new outfits? Consider a shopping trip to a local thrift/second-hand store store to find new-to-you pieces that contribute less to the waste of fast fashion. When shopping for new pieces, keep an eye out for brands that use eco-friendly materials and ethical production practices. When buying new pieces, sometimes spending a bit more is worth it to have items that will last years, rather than only a season or two.

When going through your clothing and housewares, it's also important to consider what you can reuse in a new way and what can be given a new life. There are so many ideas online for upcycling pre-loved clothing and housewares and, if you're certain you no longer have a use for them, consider donating items that still have life left in them to a secondhand shop, so they can find their way to a new owner, rather than simply being discarded. Check out some ideas to upcycle items you might already have.

Finally, as the weather warms up, consider taking some time to get outside! Take a walk or hike, ride a bike, or simply sit outside and enjoy the fresh air. By reconnecting with nature, you'll be more mindful of the impact of your actions on the environment. Keep an eye out for our next blog post with local outing ideas to connect with nature.

Spring is a wonderful time to practice sustainability and have a positive impact on the environment! Making small changes in our daily lives can make a big difference.

The post Spring Greening – Sustainable Ideas for the New Season appeared first on The Beacon at Waugh Chapel Blog.