Why not add one or two GREEN mini-resolutions to your New Year’s list this year? Much smaller in scale than many of the lofty goals we make and break year after year, these steps can add green cheer all year long to our environment, health and even our pocketbook.

The very first step you can take with the New Year is so simple: recycle your Christmas tree. From Dec. 26 to Jan. 11, the City of Tucson will recycle Christmas trees through the TreeCycle Program at various locations you can find here: http://es.tucsonaz.gov/tucsonaz.gov/treecycle

Ozone standards are expected to become more stringent in fall 2015 and we all have a responsibility. Simple actions like refueling our vehicles during the evenings, keeping our cars properly maintained and carpooling, taking the bus, biking and walking to activities can help keep our air healthy.

Did you know that just in Tucson alone, people use about 100 gallons of water per day per person? What can you do? Here are some easy and immediate steps to help conserve including: turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth, taking shorter showers, repairing faulty plumbing and collecting rainwater for your plants.

Beat Back Buffelgrass Day is upon us. The event will take place on Saturday, Jan. 24, to help remove local buffelgrass, which burns easily and produces very hot fires that can kill our desert plants and animals. Buffelgrass is an invasive species and we need to beat it back aggressively! Visit www.buffelgrass.org for more info.

We can take many more steps, from unplugging electronics when not in use (phantom electricity) to reducing greenhouse gases to cleaning up after our pets to keeping our watersheds clean. What other mini-green resolutions can you take on in 2015? Bring them on and share!

Want more ideas on how you can keep our environment clean?  Learn about Pima Association of Governments’ Sustainable Environment efforts at PAGregion.com/SustainableEnvironment and PAG’s Sun Rideshare program at www.sunrideshare.org