The best way to reduce waste is not to make it in the first place. With that in mind:

1. Use less wrapping paper. Wrap gifts in things such as old posters, maps, and newspapers that would normally be thrown away instead of creating new trash with store-bought wrapping paper. Gift bags (without the tissue paper) are a quick choice that can be used for irregularly shaped items and can be reused without looking crumpled. Request that people giving you gifts leave off the wrapping paper, and ask them if they'd like you to do the same for their gift.

2. Go without a cut Christmas tree. Instead of buying a cut tree that'll just get trashed or mulched come January 1st, consider an artificial tree which can be used for multiple years, or start a tradition by decorating a live tree in your yard.

3. Give gifts that replace disposable products. For example, electric razors to replace throwaway ones, or a set of cloth napkins to reduce the consumption of paper products. Try to get durable things that will last a long time and require little maintenance.

4. Avoid gifts with a lot of packaging. Products that have are packaged twice (a bag inside a box), have an extra layer or plastic wrap, or are individually wrapped are a major no-no. When choosing between two similar products, go for the one that has less packaging or is offered in bulk. Chances are, it'll be the cheaper choice.

5. Send out Christmas cards electronically. Friends and family will understand your decision, especially with the current anthrax scares. There are many free online greeting card services that allow you to send quality messages that can be just as significant (but less wasteful) than paper cards.

6. Get yourself taken off catalog mailing lists. Don't look at all those catalogs that keep coming in the mail? Send a letter requesting your name be removed from marketing lists to The Direct Marketing Association Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008 or call them at 212-768-7277 for more information. This should take you off mailing lists for five years, or until you ask for a catalog from somewhere.

7. Buy less stuff. Ask yourself if the person your buying for really wants or needs what you're getting them, don't just get something for the sake of getting something. If you don't know what to give, get a gift certificate or give gifts like sports or event tickets. If you're really altruistic, give a donation to a charity in the person's name.

8. Get creative. There's no limit to the things you can reuse and the ways you can shrink what you throw away. Make gift tags out of old Christmas cards or pack fragile presents with popcorn. With enough ingenuity, anyone can become a Martha Stewart with trash.

9. Tell stores and manufacturers that you want less wasteful products. For all those overachievers out there (you know who you are), spend some time giving feedback to the makers of the products you buy. Lots of items, especially groceries, have a phone number for comments and questions. Take the opportunity to tell the company that you want less packaging and environmentally friendly products.

10. Don't just stop after Christmas. While the holidays are a particularly crucial time to cut back on waste, that doesn't make the rest of the year any less important. The same principles apply year round, so get into the habit of reducing the amount of trash you make now. Eventually, it'll become second nature.

Facts and Figures:

· Most of our trash (over 40%) comes from paper products. (Source: EPA)

· Over 900,000,000 trees are logged annually to provide the US with its paper products. (Source: Environmental Systems of America)

· 3.35 million tons of paper were used for catalogs in 1999. (Source: Environmental Defense Fund)

· The second biggest source (18%) of waste come from yard scraps such as grass cuttings, leaves, and discarded Christmas trees. (Source: EPA)

· 24 million tons of yard waste are thrown away by Americans every year, instead of being composted or recycled. (Source: Environmental Defense Fund)

· Americans create 600,000 tons of trash a day, or 210,000,000 tons a year. That comes out to around 4.3 pounds of trash per person per day. (Source: Learner.org)