Are There Eco-Friendly Ways To Dispose Of Your Christmas Tree?

Christmas trees have been a core part of holiday traditions since the at least the 16th Century in Germany. Since they are so popular, it can be easy to overlook the impact they have on the environment.

One study found that the average Christmas tree leaves 40 kg of greenhouse gases. Natural trees are obviously a lot better for our carbon footprint, but can still be bad for the environment if they are not managed properly.

One of the biggest things that you need to know is that it is essential to dispose of your Christmas tree the right way. Believe it or not, some Christmas tree removal options are better for the environment than others.

Considering the Environment When Disposing of Christmas Trees

You might be surprised to hear about the environmental impact of Christmas trees. Surprisingly, some people have debated whether real or artificial Christmas trees are better for the environment.

The New York Times wrote an article summarizing research on the topic. They found that the real trees were better for the environment (which shouldn’t come as a surprise). However, they also said it was important to dispose of them the right way.

Have you wondered how you can dispose of your Christmas tree after the Christmas season winds down without hurting the environment? Well, it turns out that there are plenty of sustainable, green cleaning ways to recycle or dispose of a Christmas tree. Most people prefer throwing the trees into landfills, and we all know that it is not the best way. It fills the landfill, which makes it harder to dispose of other waste over the long-term. This can also cause the tree to be incinerated, which leaves an unnecessary carbon footprint. In this article, I will walk you through a few ways to reuse or dispose of your tree.

Make Firewood

You will agree with me that most Christmas trees can be used as fuel for your fire pit or fireplace. If you are planning on burning wood anyways, then it won’t leave an extra carbon footprint. Of course, you need to wait for the log to dry enough before you convert it to firewood. Avoid using the firewood in indoor fire pits as they may cause chimney fires.

Use as Mulch

As you well know Christmas trees come with needle-like leaves. These leaves can be used in your yard as mulch. You only have to shake off the dead needles and use them to mulch the required area. Luckily, the needles don’t collect mold, and they are known to decompose slowly.

Dune Restoration

Christmas trees can actually have a positive impact on the environment if you live by a beach. If you are living near a beach, you can help fight erosion and restore dunes by covering parts of the beach with the pine trees. The trees and their needles help in protecting the vegetation and sand from wind and water erosion. Besides, they provide cover for birds during winter.

Donate your Christmas Tree

Just because you are done with your Christmas tree doesn’t mean that someone else can’t use it. You will be surprised that there are people out there looking for pine trees to feed their goats. You can liaise with your local farms or zoos and am pretty sure they will take the trees off your hands, and use them as treats or play things for animals.

For those who use artificial Christmas trees, you can donate them to schools, retirement homes, senior centers, and nursing facilities. Moreover, some Goodwill retail stores and thrift stores will be glad to take your tree as long as it’s in good condition.

Compost the Tree

Some of the cities do not contain chip trees for reuse. In this case, you should take it to a local compost pit instead of sending to a landfill. Compositing is an ideal way to dispose of your Christmas tree because the branches make a good base for a manure pile.

Use the Tree for DIY Crafts

Christmas trees are not that useless for creative people. There are so many things you can make from tree trunks. I have seen some people make stepping stones, garden bed edging, coasters, land markers, and quirky designs from Christmas tree trunks. It is up to you to decide what you want to make with the old tree.

Use Yard Waste Collection Service

In case none of the above ways suits you, consider cutting your tree and fit it into your waste container. Your dumpster company or yard waste collection company will take the tree away during your typical trash day.

There are Plenty of Eco-Friendly Ways to Dispose of Your Christmas Tree

Now that you know the various ways of disposing and recycling Christmas trees, it is up to you to decide the best use of your old tree instead of throwing it in the garbage.