The holiday season does a number on the planet. It's a time when we marvel — and cringe — at all the extra trash we generate.

Many have responded over the years with stepped-up recycling efforts. Nothing wrong with that. But experts are calling for a broader focus, one that goes beyond a recycling mind-set.

Robert Lilienfeld, environmental planning consultant and co-author of "Use Less Stuff," thinks people are more ready this year to do just that.

"The significant issue isn't really garbage," Lilienfeld said. "It's consumption."

Plenty of environmentally friendly attitudes and practices could brighten up the holiday season. Experts suggest at least two broad approaches to augment recycling:

• Consider ways to use fewer resources at the start.

• Participate in "offsetting" your contribution to environmental damage.

The first is a tough challenge because it requires an attitude change: to make the holidays more about experiences than about objects, Lilienfeld said. That doesn't mean doing away with gifts. It means thinking differently about what to give and how to give it, he said.

"Like giving theater tickets and cards for downloading music," he said.

Christine Fanning, executive director of the Go Zero program of the Conservation Fund, said the "offset" idea has taken off in the last six months.

For a donation, the Go Zero plants trees on protected property, such as national wildlife refuges, to offset people's "carbon impact" on the planet. The new trees take in carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and help to "zero out" the greenhouse gases you've added by such things as home energy use and car travel.

Buy a potted tree from a nursery and plant it in your yard after the holidays.If you get a cut tree, make sure it goes to your yard-waste company for composting, rather than the landfill, after the holidays. For information on tree recycling centers near you, go to the Earth 911 Web site at cleanup.org or call 800-253-2687.

Save energy by turning down the heat. Extra bodies in the house will naturally warm up the place.Avoid paper plates and plastic utensils and accept the extra work of washing dishes. If you don't have enough non-disposable dinnerware, borrow from a friend. Use cloth napkins.As host, do the math on how much food you really need. Throttle back. As a guest, don't pile your plate with food you can't eat.Send leftovers home with guests.Don't forget to recycle what you can. Hosts should station receptacles around the house. Guests don't mind.

Buy strings of LED (light-emitting diode) holiday lights. They're more energy-efficient than incandescent, they stay lit for years, they're cool to the touch and they're amazingly sturdy.Attach a timer so you don't leave them on.

Never shop by wandering aimlessly from store to store. Short trip after short trip in your car is tough on the environment. Have a list. Have a plan. Stick to them.Bring shopping bags from home rather than accumulate more at stores. Consolidate purchases rather than take another bag from stores.Buy object-free gifts, such as cinema tickets, performing arts tickets, sports event tickets and restaurant gift certificates.Go to consignment shops, estate sales and thrift stores to pick up clothes, books and other items before they head to the landfill.Take advantage of regifting opportunities if they arise. That's when you give a gift you received but didn't use.Give an edible gift, especially something homemade. Use Judith Choate's book, "Homemade: Delicious Foods to Make and Give."

For socially responsible shopping, try Co-op America's Holiday Green Gift Catalog and the National Green Pages at coopamerica.org. Also, the Conscious Consumer section of newdream.org.More possibilities are at ecomall.com; greenshopping.com; and gaiam.com.Make a donation in the name of your gift recipient. There are thousands of possibilities. For global thinkers, Alternative Gifts International, www.altgifts.org, is a place to start.Also: justgive.org accepts donations online for thousands of charities; global giving.com; and ourvoices together.org.

Alternatives include reusable gift bags and inventive wrapping, such as newspaper, especially the Sunday comics, old maps, posters, leftover wallpaper and decorated grocery sacks. Or make the wrapping part of the gift, such as a tablecloth, bath towel or basket.Don't wrap giant gifts. A bow is fine.Buy paper made from organically grown cotton, such as products from Paporganics, www.paporganics.com.

Send holiday cards that say they're made with post-consumer recycled paper. Find sources by clicking on Woodwise at coopamerica.org.Send e-cards. Try newdream.org; hallmark.com; americangreetings.com; bluemountain.com.Use old holiday cards to make ornaments, gift tags and other decorations for the house.