Christmas Tree Recycling: Why You Shouldn’t Just Throw it Out

Why You Should Not Throw Out Your Christmas Tree

Christmas trees are a wonderful holiday tradition, but they only last for around a month before they start to fade and lose their usefulness. Once the holiday season has passed and the needles start to fall more frequently from your tree, the inevitable question pops up: what do you do with a Christmas tree after Christmas has come and gone? Throwing away a Christmas tree is not necessarily bad for the environment; trees are biodegradable, so the worst you’d be doing is filling up your local landfill. But there are ways that you can recycle your tree that will have a positive impact on the environment. What better way to start out the new year than by contributing in a small way to the health of the planet?

How To Recycle a Christmas Tree

There are a few ways to recycle a Christmas tree. First make sure that you’ve removed any ornaments and decorations from the tree, and remember that flocked Christmas trees will typically not be accepted by recycling companies.

Curbside pickup

Many areas across the United States support curbside pickup for recycling Christmas trees for at least a few weeks in January. Check with your local waste management company to see if they will come and pick up your tree and recycle it for you. Some locations may require that you chop the tree into smaller sections, so be sure to inquire about any specific requirements before leaving your tree at the end of your driveway.

Take it to The Home Depot

Following the holiday season, many Home Depot stores partner with tree companies to chip Christmas trees into mulch. Just take your tree to the nearest Home Depot location and drop it off any day after Christmas and they will see to it that your tree is turned into reusable, eco-friendly mulch. If there are no Home Depots in your area, check to see if there are any other nearby recycling centers that will take your tree off your hands.

Mulch the tree yourself

Of course, if you already have access to a large wood chipper you can turn your Christmas tree into mulch all on your own. That mulch can then be used later as part of your spring landscaping or thrown in with the rest of your compost.

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