Trash and food waste increase up to 25 percent during the holiday season. As the holidays draw near, the City of Carlsbad is sharing tips to make your celebrations more sustainable. Diverting waste from ending up in the landfill is part of the city's overall commitment to environmental sustainability, one of our core community values and an important part of the City Council's 5-Year Strategic Plan.

The holiday season doesn't have to be a time of excess; it can be a time to redouble our commitment to caring for each other and the world around us.

• Community members who stopped by the Be Creative Zone at our recent Fixit Clinic learned about some easy ways to reduce waste during the holidays including using fabric to wrap presents. We also got the demonstration on video.
• Read more about this and other easy things you can do below.

Here are five things you can do to make the holiday season environmentally sustainable:

1. Ditch paper wrapping. Here's an easy way to wrap presents using a cloth napkin and other fabrics– no tape or cutting needed.
2. Gift sustainably. Buy local, embrace regifting and consider giving an experience instead of a thing. Support local businesses by planning a staycation, taking advantage of lower rates in the winter and less crowded attractions.
3. Set the table with reusables. Ditch the disposables and deck out your holiday table with cloth tablecloths, napkins, silverware, glasses and dishes.
4. Choose LED holiday lights. LED lights use less energy than regular lights and are far more durable.
5. Fix it, don't toss it. If you have broken holiday decor, hang on to it instead of throwing it away. You can bring it to an upcoming Fixit clinic where someone can show you how to repair it (or search YouTube for help and ideas). Many items can get a new life with a new string of lights or other easy fixes.

When food waste decomposes in landfills, it emits greenhouse gases. If you're planning special meals or gatherings for the holidays, keep these things in mind to help reduce food waste.

• Plan ahead. Make a grocery list and reconfirm your guest list before shopping. Coordinate dishes with family and guests.
• Save scraps. Freeze scraps like vegetable peelings and meat trimmings for savory broths, hearty soups or future recipes.
• Share and reuse leftovers. Send party leftovers home with guests or freeze leftovers for future use.
• Compost. Any remaining food scraps that you can't use should be placed in your green compost cart.

Making a few simple changes to your holiday celebrations can make a positive impact on the environment. Working together, we can make the holiday season greener and show how we care for Carlsbad.