Christmas can be a time of excess. But many today would like to take a more earth-friendly approach to this holiday. In this program, NewWest.tv journalist Susan Millar has a conversation with Cheryl Evans of RegenerateBC and New Westminster's Climate Hub about how to reduce waste. 

One of her central ideas was to not make gifts the central aspect of Christmas. Cheryl said that creating family traditions is a good start, so that the focus is on doing things together from year to year. She talked about some of those in her own family including decorating an indoor home-made snowman, which they've had for years, in costumes that represent something that happened during the year.

We discussed trees including Manufactured trees vs. Cut trees vs. Potted trees vs. Arty home-made trees. The decorations on the trees can also be more eco-friendly: she shows a couple. Interestingly, you have to own a manufactured tree for 20 years before it becomes more eco-friendly than a new fresh tree every year.

Presents were a big topic. And Cheryl had lots of ideas for simple but much appreciated gifts with a particular emphasis on those that you can consume or experience, including great gift ideas which cost little. She had lots of creative ideas for wrappings too.

She also had lots of good ideas for food and drink. Many of us go 'over the top' with too many leftovers.

Watch this video to get good ideas that can take you through this Christmas and Christmases to come.

**Check out Metropolitan Vancouver's “Make Memories, Not Garbage” on the web too.