FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — It may be the happiest time of the year, but environmental advocates say it is also the trashiest.

Between gifts, decorations and even Christmas trees, Americans generate significantly more trash during the holidays.

A Stanford University study found that the U.S. produces about 25% more waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than at any other time of year.

“We can generate incredible amounts of waste during this particular time of year — and we don’t have to,” said Maddie Kaufman, debris-free oceans program director.

South Florida already produces more trash per person than most of the country.

“Everyday, Miami-Dade County residents generate nine pounds of trash per capita,” said Dave Doebler, co-founder of Volunteer Clean Up. “The average is 4.5 pounds of trash in the United States, and it’s even less around the world.”

In recent years, sustainable gift-giving has been catching on as more shoppers look for environmentally friendly alternatives.

“We have to share joy with people and say that saving the planet and doing good things can make you feel good,” said David Sexton, president of the Normandy Fountain Business Association. “That’s what this is about.”

Clean Miami Beach encourages residents to ditch online shopping when possible and instead support local vendors.

“They are local from our local vendors here, and they are plastic free that tell someone a story of sustainability, so that we don’t have to purchase everything on Amazon,” said Sophie Ringel, executive director of Clean Miami Beach.

Shopping local can reduce carbon emissions, support the local economy and inspire creative gift ideas — like a jar of local honey.

“When you’re sourcing your honey from a local beekeeper, you’re not only helping your local economy, but you also helping your local bees,” said Nara Cedeno of Honi Lifestyle. “And that’s very important.”

Environmental advocates stress that going green doesn’t mean being a Grinch.

“It can be fun, and it can save you a lot of money,” Kaufman said. “And you feel really good because you’re doing a lot of good for people and planet.”

At KB’s Real Christmas Trees in Miami, members of Debris Free Oceans demonstrated how repurposing materials can turn waste into holiday décor.

“This is an ornament of our lovely Mr. Grinch, but we’re not going to be a Grinch this year. No we’re not. No we’re not,” Kaufman said. “And it’s actually made from the base of a Christmas tree stump.”

Burned-out light bulbs can also be transformed into decorations.

“I was like I can’t throw these away and so I made a group of snowmen,” Kaufman said. “(I) painted this and do some twine to tie it and some old ribbon to give it a cute scarf. You can use that forever every Christmas, every holiday. Every Christmas!”

When setting the holiday table, experts say plastic should be avoided.

“That’s a big one because single-use plastic cutlery and plates are one of the top things that fill our landfills, and we’re running out of landfill space,” said Bonnie Waxman, programs manager with Debris Free Oceans. “At this point, we’ve got nearly at capacity in Miami-Dade, so it makes a big difference — and it also feels homey.”

For the mountains of boxes left behind after gift exchanges, recycling is key. Waste Management says cardboard is especially valuable.

“Cardboard … oh man we need cardboard,” said Dawn McCormick, community affairs manager for Waste Management. “We want it flat like this and none of the material inside -- with none of the packaging.”

Natural Christmas trees can also be recycled once the holidays are over, often turned into mulch for residents.

“Once a tree is recycled, a lot of communities make the mulch available to local residents,” said Kevin Burns, owner of KB’s Real Christmas Trees.

Burns also emphasized the importance of removing all decorations before placing trees at the curb.

“If it has a stand, it’s gonna go into a separate pile,” he said. “And it’s going to end up in the landfill.”

Holiday lights, however, should never go in recycling bins.

“Plus if the lights still work, you can use them again next year,” said Local 10 Environmental Advocate Louis Aguirre. “If they don’t, throw them away in the garbage can. Under no circumstances are Christmas tree lights ever recyclable.”

Waste Management agrees.

“We call them tanglers,” McCormick said. “They get tangled up in our machinery.”

She added, “There are no holiday decorations that can be recycled.”

Despite the challenges, environmental groups say sustainable celebrations don’t have to be stressful.

“It doesn’t have to be hard and it doesn’t have to be a downer,” Waxman said.

As South Florida celebrates the season, experts encourage residents to think beyond the holidays — saving gift ribbons for reuse, choosing recycled wrapping paper and making small changes that add up.

Each Christmas, an estimated 38,000 miles of ribbon are sold — enough to wrap around the entire planet — and recycled gift wrap could save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.

Happy holidays, South Florida — and remember to be kind to Mother Earth.

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