Putting organic materials — like food waste, yard waste and even paper— into a landfill doesn’t just fill it up, it actually makes the planet warm by releasing greenhouse gases. A landfill isn’t a giant compost bin. Materials buried there get densely packed in, giving them no access to the elements — especially oxygen.
Materials breaking down in a landfill do so anaerobically, or without oxygen, and over a significantly longer time than in a compost bin. This anaerobic decomposition produces methane, a potent
greenhouse gas.

Where do I buy a compost bin?

Local and chain hardware stores, home-improvement stores and some garden centers carry a variety of compost bins. The Master Composter’s program in Boulder County holds a spring compost bin sale every year; contact 303-441-3278.

You can also build a bin with four pallets placed on end and wired together.

Where do I put my compost bin?

If possible, place the bin in the shade in a place where the compost will have direct contact with the ground. This will help the moisture level stay higher. If the bin is going to be on concrete, you might want to buy or borrow some finished compost to get a little microbial activity going.

Do I need to prepare food waste
before it goes in the bin?

Is there anything
I shouldn’t compost?

Collect food waste in a lidded bucket or large food container, including melon rinds, carrot peelings, tea bags, apple cores, banana peels – almost everything that cycles through your kitchen. The average household produces more than 200 pounds of kitchen waste every year. You can successfully compost all forms of kitchen waste. However, meat, meat products, dairy products and high-fat foods like salad dressings and peanut butter, can present problems. Meat scraps and the rest will decompose eventually, but will smell bad and attract pests. Egg shells are a wonderful addition, but decompose slowly, so should be crushed. All additions to the compost pile will decompose more quickly if they are chopped up some before adding. Don’t forget the coffee grounds —these are great for your soil. Exclude any pet excrement.

What kind of maintenance
do I need to do?

For the most part, let the compost rot and go about your life. Water your pile from time to time if it dries out. Smelly compost is a cry for air. Using a pitchfork to turn the compost will increase airflow, speed up decomposition and help any odor problems.

Doesn’t compost smell?

Compost should not create an odor if you take care of it properly and don’t overload the system. Always bury the food waste by pulling aside some of the bedding, dumping the waste, and then cover it up with the bedding again. Bury successive loads in different locations in the bin.
Healthy compost smells like soil. If your compost is smelly, that’s a sign that it needs more air. Aerate your compost by regularly turning your pile.
How do I use compost?
Ready-to-use compost looks and smells like rich soil. Harvest your compost by skimming the unrotted stuff off the top and use the rest in your garden or with potted plants, houseplants, etc. following these simple directions:

• Flowers and vegetables: Work in half an inch of mature compost into the top 6 inches of the soil with a garden fork or rototiller. Be sure the soil isn’t wet, as this can result in an “adobe effect” when it dries, which adversely affects the plants.

• Perennials: Use compost as mulch to gradually improve the soil. Apply it an inch or so deep between the plants.

• Seedlings or potted flowers: Use 20 percent mature compost in the soil mix (if the mix you purchased doesn’t already contain compost or worm castings).

• Lawn: Sprinkle 1/8 to 1/4 inch of
fine compost evenly across the grass to improve the lawn’s ability to use fertilizers more efficiently so that less is needed. If you do fertilize your lawn, consider using one of the natural products based on recycled dried poultry wastes (often listed as DPW on the ingredient list) rather than synthetic chemicals.

• Trees and shrubs: Uncomposted wood
chips, grass clippings, and leaves can be spread around plantings. Be sure that woody wastes are shredded or chipped up.

• Indoor plants: Add small handfuls to the surface of the soil inside the pots. It will break down over time and provide nutrients as it decomposes.

– information from bouldercounty.org and other sources

Not anymore. If you’re still lugging your groceries home in plastic bags – you might want to rethink that. Minimally, you might consider using the bags, then bringing them back and using them again – or taking them back to the recycling bins at the market. All King Soopers and City Market stores in Colorado have recycling bins for plastic bags, and the effort has paid off. Over 440,000 plastic bags are recycled each week through the program. The stores also give shoppers 5 cents per bag that is reused. If you go the paper-bag route, you’re using bags made of recyclable materials, but which take double the resources to manufacture. Paper bags can be reused both at the grocery store and at the recycle center (filled with old newspapers).

Trail Daugherty, spokesperson for King Soopers and City Market stores, is excited about the next step the company has taken: offering shoppers the choice of three canvas bags for eco-conscious shoppers. The 13 by 8-inch canvas bags are 99 cents, insulated bags that size are $2.99 and the canvas zippered totes, which are 4 inches larger, go for $4.99. The bags are sturdy enough to last for years, and the environmental gods will look kindly on you for using them.

Other stores in the Denver metro area that recycle plastic bags and sell resuable ones include Sunflower Market, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and Wal-Mart. Safeway also sells reusable bags.

By Bike

Of course, the “greenest” approach to commuting is hopping on the old two-wheeler and pedaling to the office. And with metro Denver sporting 650 miles of bike paths, a refreshing morning ride is possible from almost any location in the area.

With the weather warming up, why wait until the weekend to hop on the bike? By riding to work, you are conserving gas, saving money, cutting carbon dioxide emissions, and getting a dang good workout. Yes, it may take a little longer to get there, but probably not as long as you would think. Many of the bike trails are continuous paths that breeze over, under and around traffic intersections. No stop-and-go for you.

Let’s address the other excuses you might have. You don’t have to ride every day; even once or twice a week would help. You won’t get too sweaty on those cool summer mornings. Clothes-wise, just pack your wrinkle-free trousers and dress shoes in your backpack and hop on.

Consider taking the South Platte, High Line or Cherry Creek trails from the south and east into downtown. The Bear Creek Trail coming in from the west is a good option. From the north and northwest areas, look at the Platte River North and Clear Creek trails.

But that’s just scratching the surface of Denver’s extensive trail system. Maps can be picked up at most city bike shops. Also check out www.denvertrails.com.

BY TRAIN OR BUS

No, Denver doesn’t have an extensive subway system or an “L” train snaking around town. But we do have convenient RTD bus and Light Rail service that leaves little reason not to take advantage of public transportation.

RTD boasts more than 75 Park-n-Ride locations around the city, meaning one is a short drive – or ride or walk – from where you live. From there, hop on a local, express or regional bus headed in the direction you’re going.

Additionally, Light Rail currently has six lines serving the south and southeast metro areas, with additional lines in the west and north planned in the future. Light Rail’s C and D line trains run into downtown Denver from Littleton along the South Santa Fe corridor. The E and F lines follow the southern I-25 corridor from Lincoln Avenue into downtown. The H line winds into downtown from I-225 and Parker Road, while the G line runs between Lincoln and I-225/Parker.

Yes, there is a charge, but riding the bus or train is probably cheaper than driving when you consider the cost of gas and parking. And don’t discount the break your jangled nerves will get as you sit back and relax while someone else does the driving. And don’t forget, RTD service includes shuttles to downtown sporting events
and to the airport.

Complete fare and route information is available at www.rtd-denver.com.

BY CAR

OK, so you have to drive. But there is a right way to do this. Carpooling to and from work has the net effect of taking cars off the road, meaning less congestion, less pollution and less stress for you. Ask around your neighborhood or put a notice in your HOA newsletter – there’s got to be someone nearby who is heading in the same general direction as you. Or, try to team up with a fellow commuter via Ride Arrangers online – visit www.drcog.com and click on “Ride Arrangers.”

If you carpool from the north area, you can cruise down the middle of I-25 in the High-Occupancy-Vehicle (HOV) lane between 70th Avenue and downtown, taking the headache out of your morning and afternoon drives.

There’s even a “green” option if you need a taxi ride from the airport or around town on a weekend night – that’s right, hybrid cabs. Metro Taxi, Denver’s largest taxi service, is touting itself as the greenest taxi service in the country, with 20 hybrid taxis in its fleet. Taking the green effort another step, the company has installed a waste oil furnace, which burns used oil from its taxis to heat its vehicle maintenance facility. Prior to the installation of the furnace, Metro paid $2,600 monthly to heat the building and now pays nothing.

Visit www.metrotaxidenver.com for details.

What is eco-fashion? The answer to this question can be tricky. Some people might say it’s organically comprised clothing. Others might say it’s clothing made from reclaimed fabrics
or sustainable sources like bamboo or hemp. Whatever side you might take, there’s plenty of
fantastic options to choose from here in the Mile High City when it comes to green garb.
Here are some local designers and boutiques that are doing their part to provide
some ultra-hip, socially responsible clothing.

square 1

1441 Larimer Square; 720-904-1122
www.square1shop.com
Situated on one of Denver’s best blocks to shop, Square 1 carries organic denim to die for, like 7 for All Mankind and Joe’s Jeans, pictured at left.

cry baby ranch

1421 Larimer St.; 888-CRYBABY
www.crybabyranch.com
One of Larimer Square’s most eclectic boutiques, Cry Baby Ranch stocks eco-friendly women’s tanks and kids’ tees from Yoga, Tribe and Culture, which are made from organic cotton.

Recycled seatbelt belt and scarf dress by
Meredith Fogg, Verdana Wear. Available at Fancy Tiger.

Lovely

7405 Grandview Ave., Arvada; 720-379-5739
www.lovelyboutique.net

Lovely is a small women’s clothing boutique in Olde Town Arvada specializing in eco-friendly labels like C&C California, Eco-ga’nik, Joe Jeans, Language and more.

Ahimsa Footwear

1668 Marion St.;

303-860-VEGI

www.ahimsafootwear.com

This local Denver shoe store carries only vegan, sweatshop-free shoes from brands like Allure, Airseal, Vegetarian Shoes, NOVACAS, Patagonia and more. Ahimsa’s shopping bags are made from 99 percent post-consumer recycled paper, and the store tries to stock locally-produced products whenever possible.

VIOLET

1439 Larimer Square; 720-932-1655
www.violetdenver.com
Specializing in clothing for professional women, Violet also outfits glass ceiling breakers with fantastic green apparel, like eco dresses from Trinity, organic t-shirts from Synergy (shown at left), eco-friendly makeup from The Balm and gorgeous jewelry from Mimi & Marge.

EVE

1413 Larimer Square; 720-932-9382
www.eveinc.net
Eve speaks to the woman in all of us, with sassy eco-friendly thong lingerie and super comfy organic cotton loungewear, and eco-handbags. Consider it one-stop-shopping for all things luxuriously green.

,

Fancy Tiger

14 South Broadway; 303-282-6590
www.fancytiger.com
This unique store is a knitting-lover’s dream, but also a great place for fashion hounds. Fancy stocks green fashion lines from local designers like Pearl Clothing (women’s shirts, skirts, and sweaters made from reclaimed garments), Veranda Wear (gorgeous summer dresses made from vintage silk scarves), ThinkRe (bags made from recycled seat belts) and Pistoli (accessories made from vintage type writer keys).

Chandler Farm

2440 West Main St., Littleton; 303-797-6633
www.chandlerfarmlifestyle.com
Gracing Littleton’s quaint Main St. is Chandler Farm, stocking tons of great recycled vintage items, including celebrated local designer Tricia Hayworth’s Hay-Lo line, which is comprised of reconstructed vintage fashions for women.

Hay-Lo fashions by Tricia Hayworth.
Available at Chandler Farm.

1.) Recycle

Set up recycling bins around the office in high-traffic areas so they are easily accessible. Make it a practice to purchase remanufactured printer toner and recycle empty toner and inkjet cartridges.

2.) Green your paper

Select 30, 50 or 100 percent post-consumer recycled content paper, and also look for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper – a mark that ensures paper is from a responsibly harvested forest.

3.) Reduce and reuse

Depending upon the size of your office, consider purchasing reusable cups, plates and mugs for use in the cafeteria and break rooms. Reduce paper use by defaulting printers and copiers to the double-sided setting. Whenever possible, e-communicate by using the company intranet and printing less.

4.) Purchase green office supplies

Many office suppliers are starting to carry more eco-conscious options. The choices run the gamut from recycled paper and plastic products, remanufactured toner cartridges, rechargeable batteries, folders, flip chart easels, plastic clipboards, waste can liners, desk pads, scissors, writing instruments
and more.

5.) Consider sustainable furniture

When outfitting a new space or replacing existing furniture, consider choosing furniture made with recycled content and low volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Sourcing environmentally preferable furniture – and even paints – can help improve indoor air quality at the office.

6.) Green how you clean

Choosing sustainable cleaning products helps to keep toxic chemicals out of the soil, water and air, for a reduced impact on people and the planet. Look for products with third-party certifications from widely recognized organizations that have stringent guidelines, such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment and Green Seal.

7.) Encourage employees to drive less

Create an incentive program to encourage employees to carpool, bike or take public transportation, and sponsor special events such as an annual bike-to-work day. Encourage the use of virtual meetings to reduce business travel and your carbon footprint.

8.) Choose ways to save water, energy

Change incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescents to save energy and money. Encourage employees to turn off electronics at the end of the day, and install motion sensors in conference rooms so lights automatically turn off when they’re not being used. Make sure all kitchen appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers and sinks have water-saving features and any leaks are fixed immediately.

9.) Create a composting program

Start a composting program and educate employees on what items are appropriate for composting. Provide compostable cutlery, cups and food containers for your cafeteria. This will help divert food waste and containers from the wastebasket – and landfills.

10.) Green your restrooms

Install auto-faucets to help save water and motion-sensor lighting to reduce electricity use. Stock your restrooms with recycled content toilet paper and tissue, and line waste bins with recycled content liners.

By Felicia Laconi, marketing director for furniture and facility supplies for Corporate Express US Inc. Corporate Express offers more than 2,300 eco-preferred office products, an exclusive line of Sustainable Earth® cleaning products and eco-preferred janitorial supplies and furniture to its customers through its online green catalog at www.EcofficeSource.com and on its premiere shopping site at www.eway.com.

1. Portland, Ore. The recipient of numerous green and sustainability awards, Portland, recently earned the highest score in a Popular Science ranking of America’s 50 Greenest Cities. The city was also the first in the nation to adopt a Global Warming Action Plan and now half the energy it consumes is renewable.

2. Vermont. It’s easy to be green in the Green Mountain State, where residents have long been committed to environmental protection and heritage preservation. Currently Vermont is working on revitalizing the downtown areas of its many historic communities through the Vermont Downtown Program, and the state’s Northeast Kingdom region has partnered with National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations to implement tourism practices that protect the destination’s environment
and culture.

3. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Winner of the World Travel & Tourism Council’s top destination award in 2007, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef was recognized for the effective partnership between the government and the local tourism industry that work together to protect it.

4. Dominica. Unlike many other Caribbean islands blighted by massive resorts, cruise ports and casinos, rainforest-covered Dominica has made an effort to protect its environment and be the region’s ecotourism destination. In 2004 Dominica was the first country to earn a designation as a Green Globe Destination from the eco-certification organization Green Globe 21.

5. New Forest National Park, England. Originally a royal forest created in 1079 by William the Conquer, New Forest National Park was designated a national park in 2005, making it the U.K.’s first national park to be established in nearly 50 years. The status was granted to protect some of southern England’s last remaining tracts of old growth forest, unenclosed pastureland and heath land that is home to 3,000 free-wandering ponies and five species of deer.

6. Aspen, Colo., is one of the greenest ski towns around, thanks largely to the efforts of the Aspen Skiing Company. In 2007 the company won the top Tourism for Tomorrow Conservation Award for its efforts, including being the first U.S. ski resort to purchase wind power and build certified green buildings. It also uses 100 percent renewable energy and created a nonprofit employee organization to raise money to protect mountain ecosystems.

7. Norwegian Fjords. In 2006, National Geographic Traveler Magazine awarded Norway’s West Fjords the highest score in its destination scorecard ranking of 94 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Experts who graded the area were impressed by the fjords’ unspoiled scenery and small farming communities.

8. San Francisco, Calif. A long-time forward thinker and actor on social and environmental issues, San Francisco has had a sustainability plan in place for nearly a decade. Almost half of San Francisco’s residents commute by public transit, walking or biking; more than 17 percent of the city is green space; and voters recently chose to allocate $100 million in bonds to finance renewable energy projects.

9. Greenbox, Ireland. A unique approach to conservation, Ireland’s newly established Greenbox ecotourism zone comprises a portion of northwestern Ireland rich with unspoiled wilderness areas and ancient archeological sites. The Greenbox works to certify local tourism business in ecotourism and promote environmentally friendly travel through the region.

10. Sydney, Australia. Famous for its beautiful beaches and harbor and its outdoor-loving populace, Australia’s Emerald City recently launched Sustainable Sydney 2030. Among the goals of this long-term initiative are revitalization of the city center, a more sustainable transportation system, more green space and greater energy efficiency.

It doesn’t take much to leave a big trace in wilderness

We weren’t too surprised. But we were disappointed.
We weren’t surprised that a beautiful, remote backpacking campsite high in northern Colorado’s Rawah Wilderness Area had been discovered by someone else. We were disappointed, however, that it had been pretty much trashed since our last visit.

Years of traipsing around in the mountains west of Fort Collins had finally led us to the 76,000-acre Rawah, one of 41 wilderness areas in Colorado. It quickly became our favorite “guys weekend” destination, with long, steep hikes rewarded with roaring waterfalls, wildflower-studded meadows, snow-fed lakes brimming with brook trout – all cradled by 12,000-foot peaks jutting in stark relief against azure skies.

Within this alpine Eden we had found a postcard-perfect camping spot, a half-mile off the main trail, tucked beneath a waterfall at 10,500 feet and overlooking the entire valley. And we did our best to return Mother Nature’s gift to us. If we didn’t exactly practice the Leave No Trace outdoor ethic, we gave our best attempt at “Leave As Little Trace As Possible.” (See accompanying story.)

But on our most recent trip to the Rawah, we found that others had loved the same spot nearly to death. A ring of fire-blackened rocks sat in the middle of trampled vegetation. What was once a faint hint of a path to the nearby stream had become a full-fledged walking trail, with several forks branching off it. Bottle caps littered the ground. Worst of all, an impromptu table had been constructed using deadfall wood, nails and nylon rope. It wasn’t a scene you’d expect to find, well, where we found it.

This is not to imply we believed the site to be “ours,” and expected to keep it that way into perpetuity. As stated above, we weren’t surprised someone else had discovered this special wilderness niche. We did expect, however, that this magnificent spot be given the respect and care it deserved.

We will return to the beauty of the Rawah again. But we won’t go back to the same campsite. Not because it’s been despoiled, but because it needs to be left undisturbed for a long time to regenerate. Our presence there would only delay its much-needed respite from human touch. Hopefully other campers will feel the same way.
~ Tim Walmer

However, charcoal briquettes come from a potentially renewable resource, while drilling for gas has its own list of environmental impacts. Makers of hardwood charcoal in particular say their product burns cleaner, hotter and faster than standard briquettes, plus it can be made of furniture scraps, saving wood.
Another way to look at it: according to www.greendaily.com, the carbon that charcoal releases into the atmosphere closes a cycle that started when the tree the charcoal came from first started drawing carbon in. Propane, on the other hand, releases carbon that was never in the atmosphere but was instead trapped underground.

The bottom line: to keep your immediate surroundings cleaner and healthier, use gas.
If you are more concerned with the impacts of gas drilling, want to stay “carbon neutral” – and love that charcoal flavor – then go with the briquettes, or try hardwood charcoal.

And of course, it’s not “green” to run out and buy a new grill when the one you’re using works just fine.

TIP: Some natural food grocers like Whole Foods sell charcoal made from recycled scrap wood or from sustainable forests. Find out more about earth-friendly charcoal online at www.greenlinkcharcoal.com.

Vespa just one make

Some riders equate the Vespa (Italian for “wasp”) brand as a generic term for all scooters and that’s not accurate. As evidenced by the accompanying list, there are many brands out there.

One local Vespa dealer, however, expounded on the green aspects of his products. “All of our Vespa models are ‘green,’” said John Beldock, owner of Erico Motorsports of Denver and Lakewood. “They are all Euro 3 emission rated, which is a higher standard than required by the EPA in the United States.

“The scooters average about 70 mpg, with a couple models capable of near 100 mpg,” Beldock said. “MPG is one thing that is normally focused on but scooters actually provide much more ‘green’ advantage than just fantastic mileage.”

Size doesn’t matter

If you can ride a bicycle, you can easily ride a scooter. Colorado law requires a motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license to ride a scooter with an engine size of over 50cc’s on the streets. The scooter must also be properly licensed by county of residence. If your scooter is less than 50cc, all you must do is register your scooter inexpensively with the State of Colorado and renew it every three years.

Many green models have a powerplant right under that 50cc limit and, while they don’t have the acceleration of a sports car, they’re not exactly slow off the line. Just stay off the main throroughfares and the freeways and you’ll
be fine.

A scooter means less maintenance, expense

“Another thing often overlooked is the fact that scooter engines are lubricated by less than one quart of oil, meaning oil changes produce less than one-eighth the amount of waste of the average four-wheel vehicle,” Beldock said. “This form of resource conservation (and waste reduction) is multiplied by the fact that much less rubber is consumed (tires), as well as brake pad material and other fluids.”

Saving money also leads to greater enjoyment riding a scooter. “I drive my scooter first because it is fun and puts a smile on my face,” said David Westman of Denver. “I drive my scooter second because it gets over 70 mpg, which turns that smile into a big grin. I pretty much ride it year-round and use it to commute to work just about every day – even today in the rain!”

The price of scooters is relatively low. For around $2,000, you can get a decent scooter brand new.

Are scooters really green?

To be called “green,” a scooter must adhere to Euro 3 regulations, which require a four-stroke engine, employing separate gas and oil tanks. You don’t have to mix the gas and oil as you would in a two-stroke model. Propane-powered scooters with direct injection are out there but tough to find. Straight electric scooters are available, using much less energy at a higher cost, but the range is limited. Piaggio, a division of Vespa, is working on a hybrid model that promises a savings of 20 percent on gasoline usage.

Continuously variable transmissions give the rider the most efficient mode of acceleration and greatest gas savings, but you take a power hit at the same time. But hey, all you have to do is twist the throttle and go.

To sum it up

“Much of what makes scooters environmentally friendly is the fact that they combat traffic congestion,” Beldock concluded. “By keeping traffic moving, we shorten the time that engines are running, in four-wheel vehicles as well as the scooters themselves. The simple fact that parking is much easier also means that trips around the block jockeying for parking are eliminated.”
~ Tim Coy

Who can resist all that being a June bride, or groom, has to offer? Gorgeous weather, beautiful backdrops, balmy evenings. With all of the glamor and romance, sometimes it’s easy to overlook the fact that weddings can be the most ecologically unfriendly events on the planet. Paper invitations, cut flowers, hordes of guests traveling by plane and car, thousand-dollar dresses worn once in a lifetime. Wasteful extravagance, right?

Well, yes and no. You don’t need to sacrifice style and luxury to be eco-friendly. One business that proves this time and time again is Colorado Green Weddings and Events. Daphne Webb, Colorado Green Weddings and Events’ green wedding planner says, “We use an ‘organic’ planning process. Clients tell us their visions, and we recreate their visions sustainably.

So how does one put on an eco-friendly wedding? The same rules for green living in general apply: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

“We never buy more than what’s needed,” says Webb. “Pre-planning and making conscious choices help
dictate this practice.”

For example, one major way Webb reduces waste, emissions and gas usage for that matter, is to encourage her clients to consider having their wedding and reception in one place. Of course this doesn’t help reduce emissions created by wedding guests who need to fly into the area; however, it does cut down on local transporting. If the bride and groom are serious about cutting emissions, they can encourage out-of-town guests to buy carbon offsets to remedy the situation.

Another way the bride and groom can reduce their carbon footprint is by way of wedding websites and invitations printed on recycled paper. Obviously the most ideal of these two scenarios is a wedding website, as no paper is used at all. Websites can also provide more information for guests, with RSVP links, detailed directions and interactive maps, carpooling information, event schedules and even stories about how the couple met. Many wedding websites even provide a guest book, through which guests can leave messages for the bride and groom.

When it comes to catered food at wedding receptions these days, the sky is the limit. Couples can choose anything from served plates, to buffet style dining, to candy stands and chocolate fountains. But one choice that couples wanting to be green should seriously consider: buying local. “We love to work with caterers who buy their food from local producers. We even encourage our clients to purchase local organic wines,” says Webb.

Now here’s the touchy part: the gown. Every bride dreams of a glorious white dress with yards of flowing fabric and oodles of intricate bead work. But who says you can’t find this same dreamy dress in a second-hand store? Or on eBay? Or maybe it’s as simple as visiting your mom’s
attic and taking a look at her wedding dress.

By choosing to wear a pre-worn gown, you’re saving energy and emissions created from both producing a brand new gown and transporting it to a vendor. The same goes for the groom. Instead of wasting a lot of cash and energy on a brand new suit, why not opt to rent one for the day? Encourage your groomsmen to do the same. Also, if your suit or dress needs to be cleaned, consider taking it to an environmentally-friendly dry cleaner who utilizes non-toxic cleaning solutions.

With all of these eco-friendly tips and ideas for throwing a green wedding, one might wonder what’s the most important thing to remember? “Green is synonymous with choice,” says Webb. “It’s important for the bride and groom to feel good about their decisions. If you can’t do everything at once, that’s totally fine. Picking and choosing how to be green is ok.” This is sound advice, especially considering all the stress and anxiety couples usually experience while planning a wedding. As much as we’d like to be, everyone can’t be a “green superhero.” Do what you can. Even the small steps make a huge difference.
~ Erin Behrenhausen