The holiday season can be the happiest time of year - but it
also can be the most wasteful. Americans generate about 25
percent more waste than usual - an extra million tons - between
Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. That’s a lot of garbage. If you
typically strive to tread lightly on the Earth, you don’t
necessarily have to abandon your green lifestyle to enjoy the
festivities. Consider these simple steps when giving thanks,
giving gifts and ringing in the new year. An evergreen tree is a
cherished part of the holiday season for many, but growing,
harvesting, transporting, and then tossing a tree - every year -
well, that takes a toll. An artificial tree made with plastics
lasts for years, reducing waste, water use and cleanup - and it
can be displayed for months without the worry of a dry tree and
falling needles. New technologies have dramatically improved the
look and feel of the plastic needles, branches and trunk, so
it’s often difficult to notice t