When the holidays are over, the halls are un-decked and the lights and decorations are put away, there's still one more task: Christmas tree recycling. Fortunately, there are a lot more ways than ever to recycle a Christmas tree, and disposing of your tree the smart, green way gets easier every year.
Christmas Tree Recycling: Start Early
Before the holidays, think about what kind of Christmas tree your home will have this year. An artificial tree needs no recycling, of course -- neither does a living tree that's potted and carried outside after the holiday.
If you decide to get a cut tree, you might want to choose a USDA-certified, organically grown tree that's guaranteed not to have pesticides or other harmful chemicals used in its cultivation. You can find an organic Christmas tree grower at Local Harvest and here are some other ideas for having a green Christmas.
When decorating your Christmas tree, remember that trees with any icicles, flocking, garland or other hard-to-remove decorations can't be accepted for recycling, so consider using other, simpler decorations. Here are some more suggestions for green Christmas decorations.
Your Town's Christmas Tree Recycling
Many municipalities and local governments have established curbside pickup, drop-off locations and other ways for residents to dispose of Christmas trees after the holidays. Also, some retailers will accept trees for recycling.
If you're unsure of how or where your community is handling Christmas tree recycling, a great source for that information is Earth911.com. The folks at Earth911 have found recycling resources for about 85 percent of the U.S. population.
Not only can Earth911 point you toward a local recycling option, they also have a program called Treecycle Partners that's established a network of growers and retailers who support sustainable practices -- their trees will feature tags that have the Earth911 Treecycle logo.
DIY Christmas Tree Recycling
There are a number of simple, smart "do-it-yourself" ways to reuse or recycle your Christmas tree. If you have a lake or pond on your property, you can dispose of your Christmas tree underwater, where it will make an ideal habitat for fish and other creatures. (Of course, the tree should not have any flocking or other decorations remaining on it.)
Similarly, if you or a friendly neighbor has a wooded area on your property, an old Christmas tree makes good habitat for birds and animals, especially in the wintry months after the holiday season. By pruning the branches, you can also reuse those in your garden or yard as mulch, as trellises or as stakes for climbing plants like tomatoes, roses or ivy.
Finally, if you can cut your tree into smaller logs, you can reuse them as firewood next year, after the wood has had a chance to "season" in dry weather. And what better source for a Yule log could there be than last year's Yule tree?
