Dear Editor:

During the holidays, think recycle, reduce & reuse. Wrapping paper, plastic packaging, cardboard boxes, even Christmas dinner; the trash piles up during the holidays by millions of extra tons per week. According to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Americans will throw away five to seven million additional tons of trash between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.
Fortunately, every Texan can help reduce that staggering amount of trash, conserve natural resources, and save money through the practice of source reduction. Source reduction is the practice of reducing waste by not creating it in the first place. That means everyone should make an effort to buy less and use less. When you are thinking of gifts for your friends and family, consider ways to "use less stuff." Here are a few tips to help everyone focus on making a positive difference this holiday season:

· Avoid over-packaged items.
· Wreaths and tree ornaments can be made from good things found in your own backyard such as leaves, branches, pinecones, and dried flowers.
· Decorative tins from last year's fruitcakes make great gift boxes and can be used again and again.
· Hold a White Elephant gift exchange. Ask friends or family to bring items they've already enjoyed and let others choose from these items. You'll be amazed at how much fun this type of a gift-exchange this can be!
· Keep your gift boxes, wrapping paper and bows to use for gifts throughout the year.
· Try wrapping your gifts in something new this year. Old maps, comics, and children's artwork are unique and eye-catching. You can even wrap in usable packaging like scarves, sheets or towels. The more creative you are with your gifts, the more special they will be to their recipients.
· Give a gift certificate.
· Recycle your yams, not your hams! A compost pile is the best yard and garden fertilizer there is, but remember to only use vegetables, not meat or dairy products. If you don't have a compost pile, use the vegetables to help feed the birds and wildlife. They'd truly appreciate the extra food this time of year.

When the holidays are over, you may look back and notice that this year was a little different. You may notice that you put a little more thought into gift giving, and receiving. You may notice that you spent more time with your family or friends, that you learned something new about them. Even better than that, you will know that you have given the gift of a cleaner, more beautiful Texas.
Keep Texas Beautiful, a state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and environment of Texas by forging partnerships between grassroots volunteers and the public and private sectors. KTB is comprised of Texans working together for a clean and beautiful Texas. For more information call 1-800-CLEAN-TX.

Kindest regards,

A friend of Keep Texas Beautiful