We generate up to 50 per cent more waste during the silly season, experts say, and for some people, the fun of the Christmas-New Year holiday can be overshadowed by guilt.

Growing up, Christmas Day for Jessica Nelms looked a lot like that of many families — an abundance of presents under the tree, a sea of wrapping paper and plastic packaging on the floor, and a spread of delicious food platters for lunch.

A dual degree in sustainability and science later, and Christmas feels different for the 27-year-old from Yeppoon in central Queensland.

"It's beginning to be filled with a bit of anxiety and guilt," she said.

"As a child I didn't think twice about the waste generated from packaging ... I'm just really conscious now."

Some describe it as being an "eco-grinch", but Ms Nelms hopes she can inspire others to make small changes to their Christmas plans without taking away festive tradition.

A Christmas tree made of driftwood and twine, decorated with items from a local op shop. ( ABC Capricornia: Rachel McGhee )

An eco-friendly guide to decorations

The first step for Ms Nelms was making sure her gifts and decorations were environmentally friendly.

"We made a tree out of driftwood and we decorated it with decorations from the op shop," she said.

"This year I've made much more of an effort to wrap my presents in things like butcher's paper, using twine ... for the little Christmas tags I've used old Christmas cards.

"This whole Christmas wrapping can be composted."

Ways to limit Christmas waste: Avoid glittery shiny wrapping paper; try to reuse old paper before throwing it out

Avoid glittery shiny wrapping paper; try to reuse old paper before throwing it out Opt for eco gifts where possible

Opt for eco gifts where possible Cater for the right amount of people to avoid food waste; compost what's left

Cater for the right amount of people to avoid food waste; compost what's left Separate food waste from general waste and recycling

Separate food waste from general waste and recycling Regift or donate unwanted gifts to charity

Planet Ark recycling campaign manager Claire Bell said it was OK if you still wanted to use festive decorated wrapping paper.

"If it's just basically paper, printed paper, then it can go in the recycling," she said.

"If you are buying wrapping paper, just don't buy the shiny glittery stuff because it can't be recycled."

Ms Bell also suggested reusing paper or finding wrapping alternatives.

"It's always better to reuse before you recycle ... you can wrap [the gift] in your preschooler's artwork or a piece of material, or if you're giving a food gift, maybe wrap it in a tea towel and give that as part of a gift."

Jessica Nelms tries to use butcher's paper and twine or reuse old wrapping from past gifts. ( ABC Capricornia: Rachel McGhee )

Find a bin system that works for you

Creating a bin system that's easy to follow on Christmas Day that also ensures food waste ends up in the right place was crucial for Ms Nelms this year.

"I often refer to myself as the crazy bin lady," she said.

"This year it's most likely going to be cardboard boxes with big marker-pen writing on it saying, 'recycling', 'compost' and 'general waste'.

"Not many people realise that by diverting things like food waste from landfill and into your compost, you're producing less greenhouse gases, and you're reusing the food for a second time."

Jessica Nelms has a bin system set up to help her and her partner separate their waste. ( ABC Capricornia: Rachel McGhee )

Professor David Pearson from Central Queensland University is part of a research project helping guide the Federal Government on how to halve food waste in Australia.

He said it was vital that people made an effort, especially at Christmas time, to separate their food and general waste.

"When food is put in the rubbish bin and it finishes up in landfill ... it does make a regrettable and significant contribution to global warming by releasing methane gases," he said.

"That's very expensive in terms of damage to the environment."

What can I recycle and what do I throw out?

Planet Ark said recycling and waste facilities were put under increasing pressure over the Christmas period, with the main issue being contamination.

"People putting the wrong things in the bin," Ms Bell said.

"One of the biggest problems is people putting recyclables in plastic bags.

"All recyclables should be loose, you should keep soft plastic out of the recycling bin because they get stuck in the machinery and cause all sorts of problems."

If you're confused about what can or can't be recycled, Planet Ark has an online tool to help.

Planet Ark is urging people to think twice about Christmas crackers. ( Supplied: Creative commons )

Planet Ark is also urging people to think twice about bonbons.

"How many of those things at the end of the meal go straight into the bin? It is completely unnecessary," Ms Bell said.

"It's not like they're even single-use ... do we really need those? Could you make your own? Could you substitute something else on the table?

Baby steps if you're feeling overwhelmed

Keeping the things simple is key to following through with any sustainable Christmas plans, Ms Nelms said.

"Baby steps with these things, even if you set up three bins this Christmas rather than the six I have in mind," she said.

"Everyone's situations are definitely not comparable; I've got my partner and my dog and that's it.

"So I've got a lot more time to set up things like bin systems, especially compared to a mum who may have four kids and juggling a lot of things around Christmas time."