It has brought you much joy, but now it has to go. Give your live Christmas tree a second life this season as communities begin collecting and recycling them from the holidays through mid-January.
To prepare your tree, make sure it is entirely free of ornaments, lights, tinsel, and the tree stand. Trees taller than six feet are usually required to be cut into two or more pieces. In some areas, you can set your tree at the curb next to the waste cart on your regular collection day. Others require a different pickup day, and some have residents bring their trees to a drop-off site. Please note: Flocked trees cannot be processed for recycling, so they should be placed in the waste cart for disposal. Check with your local solid waste authority for specific instructions in your community.
But what if your community doesn’t collect Christmas trees? You still have recycling options! The Old Farmer’s Almanac has a great list of ideas for reusing or recycling your used Christmas tree at home. They include:
- Providing a wildlife habitat in your backyard
- Anchoring your tree in the backyard and redecorating it with stringed popcorn and cranberry garland and other bird-friendly treats, like pinecones filled with peanut butter and birdseed (a fun craft for kids still at home)
- Using branches for mulch in your gardens and as winter shelter for pollinators and other small creatures
- Sawing the trunk into fireplace-sized pieces to create a Yule log for next year
- Making fragrant sachets with needles
Tree-cycling helps turn your holiday decor into something useful long after the holidays end, just one way of keeping the season sustainable.
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