How To: Dispose of Your Christmas Tree The Right Way!
Read Time: 5 minutes
There are lots of good (and bad) ways to dispose of Christmas trees, we’ll walk you through the dos and don’ts
Dos: Recycling, yard waste, creating mulch, and more!
Don’ts: Burning and putting it into a landfill
We hope you’ve had a relaxing and joyful Christmas if you celebrate! As the year winds down you’re probably thinking about what to do with your Christmas tree. If you use an artificial one, pack it up and store it for next year (and as many years after that as possible). If you bought a real tree this year, you’ll have to take a few more steps to dispose of it in an environmentally responsible manner. But don’t worry, we have a plethora of dos (as well as some don’ts) to guide you through the process.
DO ✅
Recycle - Use Earth 911’s locator feature to find recycling drop-off locations. Your local municipality might even have a pick-up program - contact them to find out more. You can also contact your local Home Depot to see if they have a tree recycling program.
Yard waste collection - If your municipality doesn’t have a recycling program specifically for Christmas trees, it may still have a yard waste collection program. If so, cut up your tree into manageable pieces and set it out for pick-up on the designated day.
Create mulch - If you have a wood chipper (or can borrow or rent one), you can cut off the branches and chop the trunk into smaller pieces and put them through the chipper to create mulch. It can then be used to protect your plants throughout the winter.
Create habitat - Many people take their trees into their backyard and create a refuge for local animals, such as birds and squirrels. Sprinkle birdseed, fruit slices, and other animal-friendly snacks to attract these cute critters.
If you live near a body of water, such as a pond, lake, or ocean, consider sinking your tree in it. Trees create more variety in the aquatic habitat and provide a food source for algae. Please check with your local municipality and/or conservation organization to make sure your tree is fit for the body of water first.
Donate to a garden center - Many garden centers can put your tree to good use, mostly through turning it into mulch. Contact your local garden center to see if they want your tree - some places will even come pick it up.
Donate to a zoo or farm - If you live near a zoo, ask if they’d like to give your tree to their big cats. Many farms, especially ones that have goats, would love to use your Christmas trees as a great snack for their animals.
Create crafts - Teach your children to get the most out of everything by using parts of your tree in arts and crafts time. You can create coasters out of the wood or use the pine needles to create a beautiful wreath - get creative with it!
DON’T ❌
Burn your tree - The sap from your tree increases the risk of an out-of-control fire - it’s not worth the risk. Additionally, burning the tree releases the carbon dioxide it has stored back into the atmosphere.
Send it to the landfill - As trash is continually piled on top of itself in a landfill, the covered layers receive little to no exposure to oxygen. When your Christmas tree starts to decompose with no oxygen, it will emit much more methane than it would under conditions with oxygen. Methane is an incredibly potent greenhouse that we want to limit if we’re going to successfully fight climate change.
No matter which eco-friendly option you choose, thank you for taking the time to consider how your actions impact the world around you! We hope you have a fun and safe beginning of the new year!
