DREAMING OF A GREEN CHRISTMAS (From Barry And District News)

DREAMING OF A GREEN CHRISTMAS

YOU only need to take a look at the nation's bulging wheelie-bins a day or two after Christmas to know that the festive season is a throwaway extravaganza. And while we all enjoy having a good time at Christmas, environmentalists say we're going to excessive lengths these days - and we're all in danger of paying the price. Campaigning groups say Christmas is ruined for many families by exploitative advertising aimed at kids - aiming to sell them useless products at prices their parents can't afford.

Most parents would agree; a poll showed 70 per cent of us think children see too many adverts. But grown-ups come in for the hard sell too, and we spend billions every year on Christmas gifts, food and clothes. All those often-disposable goodies come at a high cost to the environment. And environmental groups say we'd be better off putting our green thinking caps on for the Christmas celebrations. So how do you do it?

Here are ten top tips for a stocking-full of fun this Christmas - without ruining the planet. 1) Christmas cards - recycle them by using Christmas card re-use labels. 2) Always buy recycled wrapping paper and cards made of recycled paper. Wrap presents carefully so the paper can be reused (a tricky one if you have children...) 3) Hunt around quality second-hand shops for presents. People often give away hardly-used items which can pass for new. It's the ultimate in recycling, and will save you money too. 4) If you buy a real tree, get one with roots. Then you can plant it outside after Christmas, and perhaps even re-use it next year. Keep the tree healthy indoors with regular watering. 5) If you aren't keeping your tree, ask the local council about recycling -- they chop them up to use as mulch in parks. 6) Forget the tree altogether - decorate a big pot plant or an attractive bare branch instead. 7) Always recycle bottles and waste paper after Christmas, when we have a larger-than-usual amount. 8) When buying Christmas presents, refuse some of the carrier bags and minimise the amount of waste packaging you have to lug home. Better still, take your own bags. 9) When stocking up on food, opt for organic goods to avoid pesticides and genetically-modified ingredients. Buy meat from sensitively-reared livestock and free range eggs; all this measures will help to encourage environmentally-friendly farming methods. 10 ) When everyone snoozes off in front of the TV after Christmas dinner, turn the box off at the wall rather than leaving it on standby, which wastes a surprisingly large amount of electricity. Remember, every little really does help.

And if someone comes up to you this week and says he's not buying you a gift this year, don't call him a Scrooge - appeal to his world-saving tastes by asking instead for shares in an environmental concern such as the The Wind Fund. No, it's nothing to do with sprouts; it's an investment fund for small-scale renewable energy products in the UK and your gift-buyer can call them on 0800 0562761. It may not cost too much but he will, after all, be giving you the world.