The most wonderful time of the year has come and gone; the ornaments are neatly packed away, the gift wrapping has been thrown out and we begin the countdown to warm weather. If you opted for a real Christmas tree you may be wondering if there are any sustainable ways to discard it. While curbside pickup is the most traditional, there are many other ways to recycle a Christmas tree and give back to the environment.Please note: It is also best to let the tree dry out for a few months before attempting several of our Christmas tree recycling suggestions below.
7 Sustainable Ways to Recycle your Christmas Tree
Outdoor Firewood: Evergreen Christmas trees should only be burned outside, because they contain a high amount of sap. The sap is highly flammable and burns very hot & fast, which poses a great danger when used indoors.Feed the Goats: If you’re a local resident in the Philadelphia area, you can donate your tree to Philly Goat Project, which is an initiative to help fund a goat farm in Germantown. Not only are you helping a great cause, but your supplying delicious food that goats love!Curbside Pickup: This is the most traditional way you can recycle your Christmas tree, but it usually occurs within a very small window of time – check local city or town for dates. Typically, the trees will be put through a chipped and turned into mulch for local parks.Give Back to Nature: If you have a large backyard or a wooded area close by, simply set the tree there for local wildlife to enjoy! It will provide shelter throughout the window for birds, squirrels and other critters.Ash Your Garden: After you’ve burned your Christmas tree you can use the nutrient-rich ashes in your garden to help your plants and flowers thrive come spring!Create Cool Gifts: Turn your Christmas tree into air fresheners or cool coasters! If your needles are still green you can store them in paper bags or sachets to freshen your home year-round. Someone who’s a bit of a handyman & owns a chainsaw can dry out their tree and cut the trunk into one-inch wood coasters.Donate: If you missed your local community’s curbside pickup program, which is usually only offered during the 2 weeks after Christmas Day, you can donate your tree through a local program. You’ll need to do a little bit of research to find a program close to your home, but this option typically runs until the end of January.
The most wonderful time of the year has come and gone; the ornaments are neatly packed away, the gift wrapping has been thrown out and we begin the countdown to warm weather. If you opted for a real Christmas tree you may be wondering if there are any sustainable ways to discard it. While curbside pickup is the most traditional, there are many other ways to recycle a Christmas tree and give back to the environment.
Please note: It is also best to let the tree dry out for a few months before attempting several of our Christmas tree recycling suggestions below.