How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree
There’s nothing quite like a real-deal Christmas tree. It appeals to all our senses and brings an extra dose of holiday cheer to our homes.
But after the holiday season it can be tricky to know exactly what to do next. The tree’s not going to just stay there the whole year, right? Sooooo… how in the world do you get rid of a Christmas tree?
The short answer? You recycle it.
Why Should I Recycle My Christmas Tree?
Recycled trees often get chipped and shredded into mulch. This mulch can then be used for local farms, lawn maintenance and landscaping, hiking trails, or playgrounds.
Mulch can also be used for soil erosion programs, creating a barrier for lake and river shoreline management. Real trees are good for our holiday cheer and can be great for the environment!
Now, that last bit might seem counterintuitive. But real Christmas trees, when bought locally and responsibly disposed of, are actually better for the environment than their fake counterparts. In fact, the Carbon Trust estimates that we’d need to use our fake trees for 10 years to make up for the environmental damage they cause!
Real trees are a renewable resource, unlike the petroleum-turned-plastic used for fake trees. And there’s no reason to worry about deforestation since they’re grown for the purpose of harvesting.
6 Tips for Successful Christmas Tree Recycling
We mentioned real trees are better for the environment if they’re responsibly disposed of. Here are six tips to help with that.
#1 Avoid flocked trees.
The recycling process actually starts at the point of purchase. A flocked tree is one that’s covered with a white, powdery mixture to make it look like it’s been lightly snowed-upon. This is an automatic no-no for recycling.
#2 Get on it ASAP.
The longer the tree sits in your living room, the more it dries out. And the drier the tree, the greater the fire hazard. The safest thing to do is to remove and recycle ASAP! Most recycling events or curbside waste pick-up happens the first two weeks in January, anyway.
#3 Follow instructions carefully.
Most recycling programs have their own guidelines. The two most common are removing décor and uncovering your tree.
For décor, we’re talking ornaments, tinsel, lights, and even your tree stand. Not only are these likely not recyclable, but also you can use them the following year. Reduce, reuse, recycle, right?
Also, most recycling programs don’t want trash bags, plastic tarps, or other coverings mucking up their wood chipping efforts. Let your tree be naked!
#5 You can DIY your recycling!
Thin slices of trunk are perfect for next year’s DIY ornaments. Or make coasters! Easy peasy!
If your tree came sans-flocking, you can also cut it into smaller pieces and donate to the local wildlife. Fish love sunken wood as refuge and feeding areas. Or, take the entire tree and stick it in your backyard for some winter bird-watching action! You could even call your local wildlife sanctuary—like The Wild Animal Sanctuary—and see if they’d like to take it off your hands. (Fun fact: The Wild Animal Sanctuary took in many of the Tiger King’s big cats.)
#6 Create compost.
Composting is the natural process of recycling any organic matter into a valuable fertilizer. Over time, your decomposing waste—yard trimmings, leaves, paper products, food scraps, and Christmas trees—become a garden’s best friend. Wood chips and branches from your tree could become a great base for your compost pile.
#7 Never burn a Christmas tree.
Do not recycle your Christmas tree into firewood. Evergreen trees have tons of natural turpentine oils. These are highly, highly, highly flammable. So, play it safe and never burn your leftover tree in your fireplace.
Christmas Tree Recycling in Denver
Every year, Denver Recycles hosts a Treecycle program. In 2019, they recycled more than 21,000 trees and turned them into mulch, given free to Denver residents the following spring!
If you follow their easy-as-pie instructions, they’ll pick up your Christmas tree during your regularly scheduled trash collection days the first two weeks in January. There’s no reason not to recycle your tree!
Thinking about a new house in the new year?
Now is often the time of year we reflect on and set new goals. If real estate is on your list, give us a call! We’d love to help. Book a Discovery Meeting today!
