What do I do with my Christmas Tree?

According to DC DPW residents should place  trees on the curb/alley along with their normal waste and recycling beginning December 31st. Trees picked up between December 31st and January 12th will be chipped and composted.

Green Resolutions for 2013

While there's nothing most of us can do to keep us from going off the Fiscal Cliff, you can make some green resolutions for 2013.  You're most likely already recycling everything you can...so here are some ideas to take it to the next level.  

1) Sign up for Solar!  The DC City Council authorized $1.1Million for solar rebates for DC residents in 2013.  Check out DDOE's How To Guide for Solar Rebates and check out the DC Sun Website for updates on Solar Co-Ops and other solar energy promotions and events in the area. 
2) COMPOST!  Yes, you can!  I put my composter out in the alley years ago, and now many neighbors contribute to it.  OR, find a local community garden where you can drop your scraps off...or try out Compost Cab or FatWorm Compost.  Google it and dig a compost hole in your backyard.  Composting has cut my waste by more than 1/2. It's amazing to see how things decompose..especially when you integrate coffee grounds from your local coffee shop into the mix.  If you don't use the compost on your own yard, offer it up on Freecycle..and it will be gone in a heart beat!
3) Join the fight to stop coal burning at the Capitol Power Plant! Contact Jim Dougherty at jim.dougherty@sierraclub.org at the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club to learn how to get involved.
4) Reduce your plastic footprint.  Plastics are not environmentally friendly and can negatively impact the health of humans and wildlife.  Reduce your plastic footprint in 2013. Check out Beth Terry's entertaining book, Plastic Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too.
5) Buy Used!  Instead of buying new goods, reuse and repurpose.  Amazon's Sell Your Stuff will market your used books, Kindle etc on their website.  Check out the "used" option when buying! Glyde.com is a great place to buy or sell Apple or Kindle products as well as many video games.  Style.ly is a great marketplace for women's clothing while ThredUp is a great place to buy and sell kid's clothing. 

Most of all, get those blackeyed peas cooking!  Here's to 2013!

Green Gifts: Preserve Products

Support recycling...and reuse all those yogurt containers you've recycled through the years by giving Preserve Products to your favorite enviro geek. They make great stocking stuffers!  Preserve makes personal care (e.g. toothbrushes, razors, and blades), reusable tableware (plates, cups, cutlery) and kitchen goods (food storage, colanders, cutting boards) in a wide variety of cool colors. Locally, I find their products at Yes! Organic Market and Whole Foods.

• Preserve products are made from 100% recycled plastics and 100% post-consumer paper.
• Their plastic products are recyclable, either through our postage-paid labels and mailers (toothbrushes and razor handles) or at the curb in communities that recycle #5 plastic.
•  Products are made in the USA, 
• They don't test on animals. 
• Products are made to last—and to look cool!

Green Gifts: Bike Helmet Covers

Well, 'tis the season, so over the next weeks, I'll provide some green gift ideas.  Now that Mayor Gray has declared Uturns across bike lanes illegal (thank you!) and with the L St Cycle Track all coupled with really not so cold temps, it's a great time to outfit your cycle friends with some bike swag.  Helmet covers are a great idea as they help keep heads warm AND dry, and depending on the color, increase visibility. Sadly, I've not been able to find these covers at any local bike shops, so I bought mine on line.  I bought a "one-size-fits-all" model...and it worked on my helmet.  To boot, mine has reflector tape on the front..and a reflector tape loop on the back that I can attach an LED light to to further increase my visibility.  They come in a wide array of prices.  Mine cost some $12 and is made of durable and washable material.  Check 'em out!