From Thanksgiving to New Year's, U.S. households generate 25% more trash, with about 1 million additional tons of garbage entering landfills each week. Reduce your impact this season with these sustainability tips:

• Most wrapping paper from the store isn't recyclable, so consider using sustainable gift wrap made from materials you might already have at home. You can create unique and reusable wrappings using items such as newspaper comics, maps, decorated paper shopping bags, or fabrics.
• Shop second-hand for durable items that will last.
• Hand-made gifts are thoughtful and personal.
• Give the gift of a shared experience that makes memories instead of a physical item.
• Repurpose your holiday cards as gift tags.

Make sure you know the best way to recycle holiday waste.
View Eco-Cycle's Zero Waste Holiday Guide for detailed information on where and how to recycle or dispose of items like holiday bows, broken holiday lights and more!

Holiday meals often emphasize abundance, but that can mean a lot of uneaten food. To reduce your food waste and prevent it from going to the landfill, only buy what you need, save leftovers in the fridge or freezer, consider donating any unused nonperishable foods to a local food pantry, and compost scraps. Use this Guest-imator tool to estimate the right amount of food for your holiday events.

For 27 years, Scout Troop 69 has recycled Christmas trees for Superior and Louisville. In 2024, they collected over 430 trees! This service supports the community by picking up Christmas trees for safe and responsible disposal after the holiday. It keeps the trees out of landfills and provides an important community service.

Trees must have decorations removed and be ready to be picked up on the curb by 8 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3.

Please welcome our new Sustainability Specialist, Emily Walsh, who will support Superior as we continue to advance our climate goals.

Emily, originally from Chicago, relocated to Colorado, where she earned a Master's degree in Urban Resilience and Sustainability from the University of Colorado Boulder.

She has a diverse background in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, where she has worked on a variety of sustainability topics, including residential solar, greening businesses, and Nature-based Solutions. Most recently, she supported the U.S. Navy with their efforts to increase naval base resilience within the context of climate change impacts.

Emily enjoys being outdoors, spending time with friends, and getting creative with her crochet projects. She is passionate about fostering regional sustainability for our communities and is excited to help Superior continue to set and achieve its ambitious goals.

Superior’s Water Efficiency Rebate Program offers rebates for new fixtures that save water and money. Homeowners who upgraded in the last six months are eligible to receive a rebate for water-conserving models of dishwashers, shower heads, clothes washers, drip lines and more. Important things to note:

• Rebates are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis
• 2025 rebates will be processed in January 2026

Future funding will also be available for this program again in 2026, so keep track of your receipts and thank you for considering saving water with your new purchases.

Are you enjoying the Sustainability newsletter? Did you know the Town also sends a Historical Commission, Parks, Recreation & Open Space and Superior Sentinel newsletter? You can also subscribe to receive Superior Community Center updates, Town Board information and more. For more information and to view your preferences, visit the Town's email and text messages subscription page.