Sustainability Spotlight - December 2021 - Want to Make the Nice List?

It’s as easy as counting 1-2-tree. Buy a real Christmas tree this holiday season. They are more environmentally friendly than fake ones made of plastic. U.S. residents purchase about 10 million artificial trees each year, and 90 percent of them come from China. That’s a lot of carbon emissions, and most artificial trees end up in landfills where they remain for hundreds pf years since plastic doesn’t easily break down.

You can help combat climate change by cutting down or purchasing a sustainably grown real tree. Yes, that’s right—well-managed forests can store as much carbon as unmanaged forests. We can cut more than 30 percent of the carbon emissions needed to slow climate change with natural solutions like restoring our forests (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine). Science shows when our forests are sustainably managed, they can also produce renewable resources like Christmas trees and other wood-made products.

Buying a permit and cutting your own tree from a county, state, or national forest helps reduce wildfire risks and prepares our public forests for climate change. Buying a tree from a local tree farm supports local communities. It gives landowners the profits they need to keep their land forested. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, tree farmers plant 1-3 seedlings for every tree cut. That means more trees to combat climate change and provide clean air and water, wildlife habitat, and healthy soil. Sustainable tree farmers typically don’t use pesticides or chemical colorants.

When decorating your tree or home, be sure to switch to LED holiday lights. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), LED light strands are sturdier, last longer, and consume 70 percent less energy than conventional incandescent ones. It only costs $0.27 to light a 6-foot tree for 12 hours a day for 40 days with LEDs compared to $10 for incandescent lights. Even better, LED lights are significantly less likely to burn out or break than their incandescent cousins. Why is this? DOE has an excellent web page explaining how LED and incandescent string lights work. https://www.energy.gov/articles/how-do-holiday-lights-work. If you have older incandescent string lights, you can recycle incandescent string lights and LED string lights at SustainAbility. Use a timer to save electricity.

The City provides tree recycling services until mid-February. Remove all ornamentation, tree stands, twine, lights, and garland. Yard waste and other debris will not be accepted. Drop-off sites are open daily from sunrise until sunset for Wheat Ridge residents at the following park locations:

• Anderson Park – 4355 Field St.

• Panorama Park - 3400 Fenton St.

For more information, contact the Parks, Forestry and Open Space office at 303-205-755

Gift Giving: 

• Support local business by purchasing gift cards, buying local, and ordering food to go. Many businesses have pickup options. Check out the new Eat Ridge page for more information.
• Give something edible. Make a dessert or a healthy snack packaged in reusable mason jars.
• Give products that will help your friends and family go green, such as reusable mugs, water bottles, bags or lunch containers.
• Give something edible. Make a dessert or a healthy snack packaged in reusable mason jars.

Gift Wrapping: Reuse newspapers, maps, posters, fabric, calendars, and cloth bags to wrap tape-free gifts. Twine and plant clippings can be used for decorating and closing packages. Shop locally, including thrift, consignment, and second-hand stores. For shipping, replace foam or bubble wrap with balled-up newspaper or magazine pages.

Have a safe and sustainable holiday season this year.

More about Sustainable Wheat Ridge

Sustainable Wheat Ridge is a resident-led committee that was established in 2018 to provide the city with recommendations to enhance the environmental sustainability of Wheat Ridge. Included in these recommendations are goals around preserving Wheat Ridge’s agricultural history, connecting local producers and consumers, and establishing partnerships to support local food production. Check out the full Sustainable Wheat Ridge action plan here!