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HRGolfGuide.com Make it ‘Home Green Home’ for the Holidays BY HRGREEN.ORG


Hampton Roads, Va. -- As fall turns into winter, askHRgreen.org turns its thoughts to hearth, home and how to make the approaching holiday season easy on the envi- ronment. Consider the following reminders to help sustain you from Thanksgiving through the New Year and beyond.


Make a good first impression.


With company coming, you’ll want to have a tidy yard so be sure to col- lect your leaves for municipal pick up. Leaves should never be raked or blown into the storm drain, which can cause street flooding and con- tribute to excess algae growth in waterways. While you’re sprucing up, be sure to disconnect and drain your garden hoses and rain barrels. Packing away these items now will prevent damage from freezing tem- peratures down the road and may decrease your chances of bursting a water pipe.


Keep a fat-free drain. All that tur-


key, all those trimmings! Holiday cooking can leave behind a big fat mess. Make sure to keep leftover foods out of the kitchen drain and garbage disposal to avoid a backup in your sink. For proper disposal, throw food scraps in the trash or compost them, and use a paper tow- el to wipe your dirty dishes before washing. As for standing grease or cooking oil, pour it in a heat-safe can, pop it in the freezer to harden and toss the can out with the trash.


Recycle more, trash less. Accord- ing to the Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of household garbage in the United States can increase by 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.


We’re not just talking trash here; a lot of what ends up in the garbage may be recyclable. And don’t for- get that most Hampton Roads cities and counties will pick up and recy- cle your naturally-grown Christmas trees after the holidays. Find out what’s recyclable in your commu- nity, and be sure to check your city/ county’s website after the holidays for their tree collection schedule.


Be a good guest. People so enjoy visiting friends and family over the holidays, which can put your host’s lavatory into overdrive. Our apolo- gies if this question seems impolite, but do you know what not to flush? The list includes: facial tissues, pa- per towels, baby/personal hygiene/


all-purpose cleaning wipes (even if they are labeled “flushable”), cotton swabs, feminine hygiene products, fats/oils/grease


and table scraps


from the kitchen. Don’t be the guest that causes a backed up commode or sewage overflow!


De-ice Right. You know it’s coming at least once this winter – snow! When it does, remember that you should never use fertilizer as a de-icer. When the snow or ice melts, the fertilizer runs off into the storm drains and continues its jour- ney to our local waterways. Try a no-chemical approach by pouring a solution of warm water and table salt on small areas of thin ice, or use sand to improve traction on slippery


Photo Courtesy of HGTV


surfaces. The chemical deicer that is the least harmful to the environ- ment is magnesium chloride. Apply it before snow falls to prevent ice from forming and only use the rec- ommended amount.


Resolve to Live Greener. While many will resolve to shed a few pounds, find a new job or get orga- nized in the year ahead, there is one resolution that is easy to achieve – to live greener in 2018. For inspira- tion, visit askHRgreen.org for ideas on how to be a conscientious envi- ronmental steward throughout the year, every year.


For more information about all things green in Hampton Roads, visit askHRgreen.org.


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