Lutz-R. Frank, Creative Commons

The average American generates over four pounds of trash daily. This amount skyrockets, though during the holiday season with the US population generated an extra million tons of trash from wrapping paper, cards, ribbons, utensils, paper plates and Christmas trees.

Here are some tips to make your holiday season more eco-friendly and sustainable.

1.    Purchase a potted tree. Once the holiday is over, plant it in your yard or donate it to a friend, community center, religious institution or a local park. This tree will absorb at least one ton of CO2, a global warming-causing greenhouse gas.

2.    Use LED lights rather than incandescent ones to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your utility bill.

3.    Make ornaments out of recycled materials.  There’s plenty of materials at your fingertips, such as paper, cardboard, pinecones, ribbon and fruit to make beautiful ornaments.

4.    Skip paper plates and use bamboo instead. It’s more sustainable because you can reuse it and it will biodegrade within months.

5.    Use beeswax Hannukah candles which are free of toxins and paraffin. These will naturally burn beautifully.

6.    Purchase produce for your holiday meals from a local farmer.