Recycling Your Christmas Tree

With the holiday season approaching, recycling is just as important as celebrating with the people you love. Every year, we recycle christmas cards, wrapping paper, tissue paper, ribbon, and sometimes even cooking oil– but how many of us actually remember to recycle our Christmas trees?

Recycling your Christmas tree is arguably one of the most important parts when it comes time to say goodbye to the holiday season and take the Christmas tree down until next year. Believe it or not, your Christmas tree is one of the holiday seasons biggest producers of waste. While having an artificial Christmas tree is always an option and can eliminate waste since they can be reused year after year, there’s nothing like the smell of a fresh Christmas tree in the living room. 

Most people take their ornaments and lights off, put them away under the stairs or in the garage, and put the Christmas tree on the side of the road to be taken away like any other piece of trash. However, there are more eco-friendly ways to recycle your Christmas tree and, when it’s time, say goodbye to the 2019 holiday season. 

Choosing Your Tree

Choosing one tree over the other may make the difference between being eco-friendly and eco-conscious this season or not. When picking out your Christmas tree, reconsider picking a tree with its roots still in tact. Yes! You heard right– ROOTS! Picking a Christmas tree with its roots still intact allows you to replant the tree at the end of the holiday season. Why not enjoy the Christmas tree, even after the holiday season is over. Not only are you giving Mother Nature her very own Christmas gift, you can also choose to bring the Christmas tree back in the following year and decorate it for another holiday season!

Recycling the Tree

When it’s time to take the tree down, not only is it important to take off all of your lights and decor, it’s also just as important to put a tarp underneath the tree before you begin tackling taking it down to prevent the tree from shedding it’s needles all over the living room floor, and possibly causing you to need a new vacuum for the new year! 

Before kicking your tree to the curb, make the job of those who are going to be recycling your tree a little bit easier– cut it! Before the time comes to put your tree in front of your house, cut it up so it can fit in the truck. Most of the time, trees taller than 5 feet tall can’t fit in the truck of those who pick it up. If you don’t want to be left with your Christmas tree in the front lawn, cut the tree before putting it out front.

If you don’t want to leave your tree on the curb, there are a plethora of locations across the country that will take your tree and recycle it if you’re willing to bring it to them. To prevent the post-Christmas sadness that comes with seeing your tree on the side of the road, strap it to the top of the car like you did when you bought it and bring it to the recycling center. 

Another option is using your tree for mulch. If you don’t have the proper equipment to do it yourself, your local department of public works may offer mulching or composting services.

Whatever option you choose, recycling your Christmas tree is the best way to end your 2019 holiday season on an eco-friendly note. And while you’re at it, begin the holiday season with Christmas cards and other paper-related gifts from BrokenCartons.com!