How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree
Some of these methods may be familiar. However, there are several creative and green ways to say goodbye to your tree this year. Let’s start with the familiar.
1. Cut up your tree to fit in your yard waste container. This is a great option if you have a service that regularly removes yard waste for you or if you dispose of your own yard waste.
2. Curbside pickup for recycling. Check with your local waste management for rules on how your tree should be prepared for pickup and when the service will be offered. Then you’ll simply leave your tree curbside with the rest of your waste materials on the scheduled day.
3. Have a non profit pick up your tree for a small donation. There are several non profits (Boy Scouts for example) that will pick up and recycle your tree for a small donation. You’ll feel good knowing your money and your tree went to a good cause.
4. Have your tree recycled for yard mulch. The tree made your house beautiful over the holidays, now it can make your yard beautiful as mulch. This gets you the most bang for your Christmas tree buck.
If you want to get creative with your tree disposal, here are a few unique ideas you may not have considered or even knew existed.
1.Donate your tree to a local lake or river shoreline stabilization project. Your tree will then be used as a soil erosion barrier. If you live in a coastal area or near a lake or river, check with your local authorities on how to donate your tree. You’re tree can help save the planet!
2. Donate your tree to be used as a fish feeder and refuge. Know of any private fishing ponds? The owners may be happy to use your tree as a fish feeder and refuge in their pond. The fish will thank you for it!
3. Donate your tree for use as natural path material on hiking paths. Check with your local parks and recreation department to see if they would be interested in taking your tree. Many counties are using natural materials to build and maintain their hiking paths.
Whatever option you use, it’s important that you dispose of your tree properly. Avoid burning your tree as a disposal option. This may seem like an easy way to get rid of your tree, but it’s a dangerous one. These trees have a high content of turpentine oils, so it’s easy for the fire to quickly get out of control.
If you need help finding a place to recycle your tree, check out Earth911.com. Enter your zip code and a description of what you’d like to recycle. You’ll get a list of locations near you that offer recycling services.
Any of the green recycling options mentioned here will get the job done and all of them are responsible and environmentally friendly ways to dispose of your tree.
