While the winter holiday season brings good cheer for most people, it also brings more solid waste to the landfill. Below are some environmentally-smart tips for a less wasteful holiday this year:

Every year, there are 2.65 billion holiday cards sold in the U.S. That's enough to fill a football stadium field 10 stories high. Look for cards that contain recycled content. You can make your own cards out of scrap paper found around the house. You could use old cards as name tags for presents or for colorful artwork to decorate your house.

 

Wrapping paper is often used once and thrown away. Try using colorful pages torn from magazines to wrap small gifts, and old maps or the Sunday comics for larger boxes. Avoid using paper entirely by using reusable decorative tins, baskets or boxes. If you do buy wrapping paper, look for ones made of recycled paper. Reusable cloth ribbons can be used in place of plastic bows.

Look for gifts with an environmental message: a nature book, a refillable thermos bottle, a canvas tote bag, a battery recharger or items made from recycled materials. Choose solar powered instead of battery powered products. Or better yet, ones that require no power at all.

At least 28 billion pounds of edible food are wasted each year, which equals nearly 100 pounds per person. Reduce that number by planning meals that have minimal waste. Use what you can as leftovers and compost appropriate materials.