There are many holidays around the end of the year. These involve parties, family get-togethers, and the giving of gifts. However, celebrations for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the New Year can create a lot of trash. The USA's Environmental Protection Agency estimates that household waste increases by 25 per cent over the holiday period. Miriam Holsinger, co-president of Eureka Recycling, urges us to carefully separate what we throw away. She said: "It really does make a difference if you just take a little extra time to put those boxes and those bottles and cans in the blue bin." Engineering professor Dan Hoornweg said we should avoid producing waste as much as possible in the first place.

Various experts have reported on how best to deal with holiday waste. Professor Hoornweg advised people to be aware of and follow the recycling policies in their town. He said different places have different rules. Ms Holsinger asked people to be careful when they throw away things like electronics, toys, and Christmas lights. Other experts also offered great advice. One said it was good to think ahead to reduce waste. She said one idea was to buy "experiences over stuff". This means buying someone a ticket to see a play or concert, instead of buying a present that comes in lots of packaging and a cardboard box. She also recommended giving people digital cards and gift cards.