For Dec. 12, 2019

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1 – The state is selling land for Christmas. 

Actually, it’s a winter auction of surplus public land by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 

There are 147 parcels ranging from less than 1 acre to 160 acres. 

The auction started this week (Tuesday, Dec. 10) and bids will be accepted through Jan. 8, 2020.

Land is available in counties in central and northern Lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. 

Those counties include Alpena, Bay, Clare, Crawford, Iosco and Midland. 

Much of the land up for auction is isolated from other DNR-managed property, officials say. 

Other parcels offer limited public recreation benefits. Several parcels are forested and have riverside or lake frontage and are better suited for private ownership.

You can visit Michigan.gov/LandForSale for auction information including minimum bid prices, property descriptions and conditions of sale. 

Bids will be opened on Jan. 22. 

 

2 – A group called the Global Recycling Foundation is offering up tips for reducing waste this holiday season. 

In the U.S., total plastic packaging consumption adds up more than 125,000 tons during the holidays. 

The foundation organizes a Global Recycling Day on March 18. The theme for 2020 is #RecyclingHeroes, and the organization says people can get started early in several ways.

One is to send eco-friendly cards. More than 2 billion cards are sent out in the U.S. during this time of the year. 

Switching to e-cards is an option, along with plantable cards, with embedded seeds that can be sowed in the spring. Cards also should be recycled or composted if possible. 

Another is choosing the right wrapping paper. 

Most wrapping paper rolls contain elements that can’t be recycled such as glitter, foil and plastic. Look for recyclable and sustainable options such as cloth, brown paper or tissue. 

For more ideas, see globalrecyclingday.com. 

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard Friday mornings in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Q-90.1 FM NPR (now streaming). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes

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