Green Your Holiday

There are many simple ways you can update your holiday traditions to minimize your impact on the environment and create more sustainable holiday traditions.

Avoid Food Waste and Divert it From Landfills (Keep it out of your garbage)

Plan holiday meals for the right number of people, then freeze or share your leftovers with others so nothing goes to waste. Be sure to prevent any remaining food waste from going to landfills by keeping it out of your garbage. Instead, place food waste in your green organics recycle bin. Our trash company, EDCO, will then pick it up and bring it to their Anaerobic Digestion Facility where it will be broken down and converted into Renewable Natural Gas and fertilizer. This process effectively diverts food scraps from landfills, where they would break down and emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is the second largest contributor to global warming (after Carbon Dioxide). Coffee filters, food-soiled cardboard, paper towels, napkins, plates and cups (with no plastic or wax coating and any metal removed) also go in your green organics bin.

Give the Gift of Shared Time or Experiences

A gift of shared time or experiences not only prevents waste, it creates something to look forward to and cherished memories. Enjoy time in nature together, plan a fun day trip or another local experience such as a hike and a picnic, a walk and coffee or a meal, tickets to a sporting event, lecture, comedy show, play, museum or concert. Gift new adventures or learning experiences such as a hot air balloon ride, botanical garden visit, news subscription, National Park pass, Masterclass, lecture, or a paddleboarding, kayaking, hang gliding, cooking, golf, horse riding or pickleball lesson.

Shop Locally

Support our local businesses and invest in our community by shopping locally this holiday season. You will reduce your carbon footprint and eliminate the excessive waste created by the delivery and packaging from online shopping. Del Mar has a number of interesting local businesses to choose from. Create your own gift basket with fresh produce, treats and crafts from the Del Mar Farmer’s Market or with plants, flowers and butterfly seeds from our local garden center. Explore gift ideas from one of our many small businesses you can find through the Del Mar Village Association. Consider a gift certificate for a restaurant, yoga or fitness class, spa or salon treatment, surf or music lesson. Peruse shops for clothing, eyewear, jewelry, books and other unique gifts. Hotels and restaurants offer live music, wine dinners and tasting.

When in Doubt…Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

In the U.S., we throw away 4.9 pounds of trash per person per day. In the weeks between Christmas and New Year’s Day, we tend to throw away 25% more trash. This holiday season, we must all do our part in finding ways to update our holiday traditions to be more sustainable and minimize our impact on the environment and this beautiful place where we are so fortunate to live.