Dr. Karen Bell

Keep Liberty Beautiful

The year is about to end, and I will start my last year in my 50s this week. Why do we celebrate birthdays, and why are they so important? I started my research by reading books on the subject, searching the internet, and asking people I know. This is what I came up with: - Birthdays help us recognize any growth and lessons we may have learned. - Birthdays give us the opportunity to reflect on what we have done throughout the past year.

- Birthdays are the best time to celebrate with family and friends.

I found online that the reasons to celebrate a birthday can mean something different for many people. In addition to giving and receiving gifts, it can be an opportunity to reflect and give thanks for another year. Most celebrate the day of their birth by throwing a party and inviting their friends and family to attend. These parties can vary widely but often involve music, dancing, food, and guests, which creates a measurable carbon footprint.

You can have a great celebration without hurting the environment and reducing your carbon footprint. Here are some ways to plan an eco-friendly birthday party or any celebration that your guests and the environment will love: Your celebration location can be the biggest contributor to an event’s carbon footprint. If your guests must fly, drive, or take a train, the pounds of CO2 emitted can be huge. The more you can keep your event location and guest list local, the smaller your carbon footprint will be.

I know we all like to decorate. No birthday party is complete without a few decorations, but many are not the best for the planet. For example, nearly every birthday will have at least a few balloons floating around, but have you ever wondered about their impact on the environment? When a balloon floats away, it could end up in waterways or habitats where birds, fish, and other wildlife may mistake them for food.

Food is a must at a birthday party, and you must have some tables, chairs, flatware, and utensils for your guests. When planning your party, try using reusable cups, plates, napkins, and utensils, which can be used repeatedly, reducing their footprints over their lifetime. This will keep plastic plates, cups, and utensils out of landfills.

When inviting your guest to the celebration, go digital! Why contribute to the landfill by sending paper invitations! I know it is nice to get mail, but how about a phone call to make it more personal. Every little step we take can help save our planet.

Online, I found this Climate Hero test that will calculate your carbon footprint. The test takes approximately five minutes to complete. You can use this link to take the test yourself: https://shorturl. at/mnJU7. Remember, there is nothing wrong with celebrating your birthday or any event; be conscious of how you plan to do so. You can reduce your party’s carbon footprint with a little eco-friendly adjustment.

It is time for the annual Bring One for the Chipper from December 26- January 6. Bring One for the Chipper is part of a yearly statewide effort to recycle live Christmas trees into helpful mulch. The main Chipper event is on January 6, 2024, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Hinesville Recycle Transfer Station (lot next to Liberty County DFCS), the intersection of West Oglethorpe Highway Fraser Drive across from McDonald’s and Jet gas station. All trees will need to be free of all decorations and tree stands.

Community members who bring in their trees will receive free tree seedlings in return!!! This year, we are giving away 300 trees! We will also be accepting gently-worn shoes and clothes at this event!! We look forward to seeing every one of you!

You can sign up for your trees right now. All trees must be picked up by 1 p.m. on January 6, 2024. If you do not pick up your tree by the end of the event, your tree will be given to the next available person. The link to reserve your tree today is https:// rb.gy/djk2mo. Contact Keep Liberty Beautiful for more ways to reduce your carbon footprint or if you have questions about Bring One For The Chipper at (912) 880-4888 or email klcb@libertycountyga. com.