How To

Christmas Tree Recycling: Where and how do you recycle trees?

The warm, clean scent of an evergreen tree is one of the hallmarks of the holiday season. If you’re a fan of live Christmas trees, you can enjoy your tree and recycle it at the end of the season to create nourishing mulch for gardens. 

Here’s where and how to recycle your Christmas tree this year. 

Where to Recycle Christmas Trees

Many municipalities run holiday tree recycling drives starting the day after Christmas. In most cases, there are specific days you can leave your tree curbside and the city or county will pick them up and take them to a mulching center for you. There may also be a local park or central city location where you can drop off your tree. Check your city or county website to find out what’s available in your neighborhood. A quick way to find the information is to search “tree recycling” and your city’s name.

No Christmas Tree Pickup? Here’s What to Do With Your Tree

What if your city doesn’t offer Christmas tree pickup or a drop-off location? You still have options!

1. Look for local composting companies.

Search “tree recycling” and your city and you may find mulch and compost companies that will happily take your tree. It’s the ultimate recycling method because your tree will be broken down into mulch that may be used to grow more trees. Better yet, you may even get a bag of mulch or compost in exchange!

2. Get together with your neighbors and have a chipping party.

If someone in your neighborhood has a wood chipper, get together and have a chipping day. It may sound a little strange, but it can be a fun way to gather after the holidays. Put out the word on neighborhood social media pages and share the mulch produced. You can also rent wood chippers from big box retailers. Always exercise caution when using a wood chipper!

3. Research preservation organizations.

If you live near a coastline, look for preservation organizations that work on coastal erosion control. Trees are often used to create beach erosion barriers, and they need large intact trees to create effective barriers.

How to Prepare a Tree for Recycling

There are a few things to keep in mind when recycling a Christmas tree – and it starts when you buy your tree.

1. Don’t add flocking or chemical preservation sprays.

Though a DIY flocked Christmas tree can be really beautiful, these chemicals can be transferred to the soil when it’s turned into mulch. If you really want a flocked tree, purchase a fake tree and hold onto it for years. These plastic trees may not be as eco-friendly as real trees, but if used for a while, they can be relatively sustainable.

2. Remove any tinsel or garlands.

Who doesn’t love some extra shine on their tree? When you’re ready to recycle your Christmas tree, be sure to remove any and all decorations. These decorative bits and pieces can get stuck in chippers and contaminate mulch.

3. Ask if there’s a size limit.

If you bought a very large tree, you may need to cut it down to meet pickup guidelines. Otherwise, the tree may not get picked up at all. If sizing information isn’t easily available online, give your local municipality or Christmas tree recycling company a call.

A fresh evergreen tree is more than just a festive holiday centerpiece. It can also become fresh mulch that brings value to your garden year-round.

There is one word of warning about reusing Christmas trees: Don’t burn them in your home fireplace. The creosote produced when burning evergreen trees can build up in the chimney and create a fire hazard. Play it safe and create eco-friendly mulch instead.