The holiday season is underway, and during it, Americans indulge in food, drink, entertainment and gift-giving. It is ingrained in our societal tradition. But, in the midst of our merry festivities, we unwittingly create more waste than any other time of the year.

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, Americans throw away approximately 25% more trash. Excess food, dying Christmas trees, torn-up wrapping paper and the like—these build to 25 million tons of garbage, equalling nearly one million tons more per week. Maybe this isn’t surprising when America is considered the “king” of trash.

With Thanksgiving, the obvious indulgence is food. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation estimates 172 million pounds of turkey is thrown out, and the traditional side dishes have their own staggering numbers, like the 40 million wasted pounds of mashed potatoes. Preparing monstrously-sized meals so that we can gorge to our stomach’s content is not economical, especially if the leftovers are thrown out. It is a waste of food and money.

Christmas also creates a surge of food waste, but the main culprits for this holiday are decorations and gifts. Approximately six million trees end up in landfills. The trees will take years to decompose, and when they do, they release methane, which is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Some neighborhoods provide chipping services, and the chips are used in public parks. Another solution is purchasing a fake tree that can be reused each year. I have always loved real trees—the look, the smell and the overall feel it brings to the holiday. But a pine or Christmas scented candle provides the feel missing from artificial trees.

Gift-giving is synonymous with Christmas. We feel obligated to give presents. Sometimes, this can be negative, especially if we offer gifts the recipient doesn’t really want or won’t really use. It is more efficient to give one, well-thought gift than multiple presents that are going to be thrown away or used.

Another aspect of gift-giving is the presentation. Wrapping paper may be non-recyclable if it is laminated or contains glitter, for example. Non-recyclable paper may be cheaper, making it more appealing, but it is worth the extra cents to help the planet. Another solution is to use outdated newspapers. It makes for an interesting—and resourceful—wrapping. Also, gift bags are durable and reusable. Forgo the paper entirely, and invest in multiple use bags.

Bringing up the rear, New Year’s celebrations result in party waste: single use plates and silverware, leftover food and spilled champagne. Similar to the other holidays, we should be conscious of our resources and how we use them. Having a party? Try reusable plates and silverware. It doesn’t have to be your own personal stash; even plastic cutlery can be washed and reused.

Some individuals and families exchange holiday cards. This a fun, heart-warming gesture—one that I’ve always loved. But let’s face it, we don’t keep every single card. Frankly, there would be too many after years of receiving them. Many of these cards can be recycled, and others can be reused. Cut off the front half, where the design is, and use it as a postcard for the next year. It could also be a bookmark, or join the already too-large box of decorations.

The holiday season is supposed to be celebrated. It doesn’t matter who you are with or which holiday you choose to partake in, but we should be aware of how we celebrate. Use only what you need. Our over-consumptive American culture doesn’t have to be wasteful.

Indulge and relax with family and friends. Have that extra plate of food that you’ll regret later, but don’t throw out the leftovers. Save them for dinner tomorrow, and the day after that. Give gifts smartly and efficiently. Think of creative ways to reuse materials. Who knows? Crafting used holiday cards could become a new tradition.

We can enjoy the holidays while being conscious of the excess waste we produce. Truthfully, this time of year could be a little less stressful and more focused on what’s important if we celebrated more efficiently.

Maddie Peters can be reached at pete9542@stthomas.edu.