10 tips to green your holidays The holidays are busy times filled with parties, buying gifts, decorating and house guests. Each of these things can wreak havoc on the environment, but everyone can do a few simple things to reduce their impact on the earth. Here are our top 10 tips for a greener holiday: 1. Bring your own reusable bags to the store when shopping. 2. Collect cooking grease in a container, let it cool and place it in the garbage instead of dumping it down the drain where it can clog the drain and cause messy and expensive backups. 3. Clean your home with a greener cleaner to prepare for houseguests. Most cleaners can be made from ingredients you already have such as baking soda, vinegar, Borax and dish soap. www.cityoftacoma.org/greenercleaners<http://www.cityoftacoma.org/greenercleaners> 4. Buy gifts that have less packaging or purchase experience gifts such as tickets to a movie, the zoo, dance lessons or a spa package. 5. Keep storm drains near your home clear of leaves and debris to prevent street flooding and holiday travel delays. 6. Buy a living tree that can be planted after the holidays or use a large indoor plant instead of a cut tree. 7. Use reusable plates, cups, utensils and napkins instead of disposable ones. 8. Give homemade treats packaged in reusable and/or recyclable containers. You can dress up the package by using cloth napkins or place mats as part of the packaging. 9. Recycle old electronics including televisions, desktop computers, laptops, tablets and e-readers at an E-Cycle Washington location. www.ecyclewashington.org<http://www.ecyclewashington.org> 10. Use TAGRO potting soil to grow a windowsill garden that will supplement your salad fixings. Easy to grow indoor veggies include lettuce, spinach, tomatoes (small fruit varieties), radishes, beans and herbs. For more information: Sarah Tolle, Community Relations, sarah.tolle@cityoftacoma.org<mailto:sarah.tolle@cityoftacoma.org>, (253) 573-2506 Lorna Sutton, Community Relations, lsutton@cityoftacoma.org<mailto:lsutton@cityoftacoma.org>, (253) 573-2352 www.cityoftacoma.org/environmentalservices<http://www.cityoftacoma.org/environmentalservices>