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When the snow falls abundant and heavy, there's nothing better than getting all bundled up, thick as the Michelin Man and heading for the hills to do some sledding. As a kid, the thrill of sledding had me yearning for the winter all year round. Now, I can't sled. I live in Los Angeles with only my compromised dreams as company. What I don't have to compromise, however, is my commitment to the environment. Here are three ways to green your sledding.
- Buy a wooden sled. Plastic sleds might look cool with all their fancy Day-Glo colors, but they are made of petroleum products. Plastic sleds aren't very sustainable either. If you ram into a tree while in a plastic sled, the sled often explodes like peanut brittle. Wooden sleds can last decades if stored and maintained properly.
- Use olive oil to slick up your sled. When I was a kid, my friends and I would put all manner of greases and lubricants on the bottoms of our sleds in hopes that it would make us go faster. We used everything from cooking sprays to massage oils to industrial greases. These weren't that great for the environment. Olive oil is the eco-friendly choice.
- Throw your trash away. Many people use cardboard boxes as makeshift sleds. Then they leave their makeshift sleds on the hill, like that's where it is supposed to go. Throw it away. Also, if your plastic sled breaks, you need to throw it in the proper receptacle. Recycle the sled if at all possible. I've also seen countless cans of cooking spray littering up the top of the hill. This practice also needs to stop.
Remember: Have fun. Be safe. Be green.
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