According to the EPA, Americans generate 5 million tons of trash between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day - 25 percent more than a six-week period at any other time of the year. Here are some tips from Jodi Helmer, author of "The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference," on spreading some green cheer this year:

• Use eco-friendly packing materials to mail gifts: recycled newspapers or the shreds from your paper shredder. You can also use real peanuts and ask the recipient to feed them to the squirrels once the box is unpacked. Styrofoam accounts for up to 25 percent of the waste in our landfills.

• Use gift bags instead of wrapping paper. Your giftees can use them over and over again. Look for gift bags made with recycled content.

• Buy a cut Christmas tree. Almost all cut trees were grown on tree farms, so you won't be depleting any forests. Also, recycle your tree. Go to www.earth911.org and enter your zip code to find out where.

- Charity Brown, The Washington Post