This year, send a Green valentine

Roses are red, the environment is green, recycling on Valentine’s Day will keep Indiana clean.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is encouraging Hoosiers to have an environmentally-friendly Valentine’s Day this year by incorporating some small changes into their celebrations.

When shopping for the perfect Valentine’s Day card, Hoosiers can help the environment by choosing cards designated that they are made from recycled materials or from materials that are easily recycled. Avoid cards with metallic details or shiny coatings because these require more resources during the manufacturing process and cannot be recycled.

Valentine cards can also find a second life when Indiana families recycle them as a unique and environmentally friendly gift tag. Other holiday options include saving children’s art throughout the year and using those as one-of-a-kind greetings, using postcards to reduce the amount of paper used, and sending electronic cards through dedicated Web sites to family and friends who use a computer.

Purchasing chocolates made locally can also have a positive effect on the environment. Buying a locally-made candy reduces the amount of gasoline used to transport the sweet treats. The decorative heart-shaped containers these candies are stored in can also be more environmentally-friendly—boxes containing recycled paper content and without plastic inserts or plastic coating are better for the environment and contribute less waste to landfills.

“Chocolates and roses are ways to show you care for loved ones on Valentine’s Day, but this occasion can also be a time to show your love for the environment,” said IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly.

For additional tips on how to become more environmentally-friendly, visit www.HoosiersCare.IN.gov. To locate your solid waste management district for more information about recycling and other waste management, visit www.recycle.IN.gov.