Phew, it's over.Admit it, as wonderful as the gift-giving and getting is, and the food and family fun, the day after Christmas we all exhale a collective sigh of relief.

Admit it, as wonderful as the gift-giving and getting is, and the food and family fun, the day after Christmas we all exhale a collective sigh of relief.The December holidays are a joyous time, but stressful and excessive, too. And the excess isn't just the egg nog and cookies, but all the extra wrapping paper, cardboard boxes, greeting cards and beverage and food containers we go through.

The December holidays are a joyous time, but stressful and excessive, too. And the excess isn't just the egg nog and cookies, but all the extra wrapping paper, cardboard boxes, greeting cards and beverage and food containers we go through.From Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, Americans produce an additional 25 million tons of garbage over and above what they normally do. That's a big heap of rubbish.

From Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, Americans produce an additional 25 million tons of garbage over and above what they normally do. That's a big heap of rubbish.Our recommendation is to cut back wherever possible and recycle whatever you can. According to holidayrecycling.com if everyone who sends greeting cards sent one less next season, that would save 50,000 cubic yards of paper. It is estimated that the 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the U.S. could fill a football field 10 stories high. Electronic holiday cards may not be for everyone, but they sure reduce waste.

Our recommendation is to cut back wherever possible and recycle whatever you can. According to holidayrecycling.com if everyone who sends greeting cards sent one less next season, that would save 50,000 cubic yards of paper. It is estimated that the 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the U.S. could fill a football field 10 stories high. Electronic holiday cards may not be for everyone, but they sure reduce waste.And there are plenty of other ways to cut waste and spending, from using rechargeable batteries, to replacing plastic and paper bags with reusable ones, to recycling gift wrap and boxes.

And there are plenty of other ways to cut waste and spending, from using rechargeable batteries, to replacing plastic and paper bags with reusable ones, to recycling gift wrap and boxes.The recession has taught Americans lessons about thrift, like the value of using cash over credit and getting by with less. But there is another lesson we can take away, and that is the necessity of conscientious recycling. Don't just toss that wreath, tree or empty soup can, recycle it instead.

The recession has taught Americans lessons about thrift, like the value of using cash over credit and getting by with less. But there is another lesson we can take away, and that is the necessity of conscientious recycling. Don't just toss that wreath, tree or empty soup can, recycle it instead.