The city of Bellevue is asking the public to give a special gift this holiday season – to the planet.

City officials note that 1 million tons of extra waste is produced per week in the U.S. between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. To counter that, they are offering some ways residents can reduce waste while still enjoying the festivities.

One is to buy a little less food this holiday season, officials say, especially appetizers and sweets. Not only will guests thank you, but also you’ll have less leftovers. What food is leftover should be frozen or given to guests to take home in reusable containers.

The bottom line: the food is more likely to be eaten than piling it all in the host’s refrigerator.

Officials also note that meat bones or a bird’s carcass can be tossed in the yard waste tote along with other food scraps and food-soiled paper.

Residents also are being asked to cut back on huge amounts of cooking oil by roasting the turkey in the oven instead of deep frying. If a person does deep fry, they should take the leftover, cooled oil to a local biodiesel manufacturer. The county’s website at http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/wdidw/category.asp?CatID=9&MatID=50 has more information.

To avoid sewer backups, officials say do not put oil down the kitchen drain or disposal. Also, do not put oil in the food debris cart. Small amounts of oil can be sopped up with used paper towels and put into the garbage.

The city also suggests that shoppers take their own bags when out getting holiday presidents. Another suggestion, give experiences, home-made gifts, or purchase gifts with less packaging.

It also helps to be creative with gift wrap, using comics or newsprint, used gift paper and gift bags, scarves, or other reusable material. Those who use traditional wrap should buy those that can be recycled. Foil and plastic wrap paper cannot be recycled.

Another tip: make gift tags from last year’s holiday cards and consider using a decorative tin, flowerpot or basket to hold your present instead of wrapping it.

Officials say that using rechargeable batteries is a good choice. New on the market are rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMN) batteries that don’t have to be charged before the first use and do not lose their charge quickly when not in use. You can find these new, improved batteries for sale at most stores.

For more details of what can be recycled in Bellevue, visit http://www.bellevuewa.gov/recycling-garbage-residents.htm.