Environmentally friendly ways to get rid of your Christmas tree

As the holidays come to an end, many people are faced with the dilemma of what to do with their live Christmas trees. A lot of cities offer curbside pickup, but there are also some creative and environmentally friendly ways to recycle the trees.

For those who wish to extend the life of their Christmas tree instead of putting it out with the trash, The National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) has some very unique ideas.

The authors of the organization’s website write: “After the holidays, don’t throw your real Christmas tree in the trash or set it on the curb. Real Christmas trees are biodegradable, which means they can be easily reused or recycled for mulch and other purposes.”

One proposed suggestion is to buy live trees that still have the roots. The experts recommend digging a hole in the fall before the ground freezes and planting the tree right after Christmas is over.

The NCTA also points out that, “Some communities use Christmas trees to make effective sand and soil erosion barriers, especially for lake and river shoreline stabilization and river delta sedimentation management.”

According to the website, many areas are also making use of shredded trees as a renewable path material for developing hiking trails.

In addition, Christmas trees can be used as fish feeders or bird feeders. The authors say that trees “make an excellent refuge and feeding area for fish” when placed in the bottom of private fish ponds.

To transition a Christmas tree into a bird feeder: “Place the Christmas tree in the garden or backyard and use it as a bird feeder and sanctuary. Fresh orange slices or strung popcorn will attract the birds and they can sit in the branches for shelter. (Make sure all decorations, hooks, garland and tinsel strands are removed).”

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer