Christmas Tree Disposal: How to Recycle and Upcycle Your Christmas Tree

The new year is here, Christmas and Ephiany have passed, and the day of taking down your Christmas tree is most likely approaching sooner than later. Christmas trees are up in homes, on average, for approximately four to five weeks. The Christmas tree growing life cycle is a rather long one considering it takes, on average, seven years to grow a 6-7’ tree. A real Christmas tree is much more environmentally friendly compared to an artificial one, but that alone doesn’t make the after-the-holidays-blues any easier. Recycling or upcycling your Christmas tree is a great way to know your tree is not at the end of its life when taken down after the holidays. Since they are biodegradable, these options are much better than simply sending it to the landfill.

Many cities have a tree recycling program in which they will pick up your tree at the curb or have a drop off site, usually near the city composting pile. Municipalities use the trees in multiple ways. Some trees become fuel and are burned in a waste-to-energy plant. Others will send them through a woodchipper in which the mulch is then sent though the composting process to become compost. This compost is then used in gardens, yards, or as a soil alternative. The mulch can also be used as an alternate material to cover trash and waste at the sanitary landfill.

If you happen to miss the tree pick up, don’t have a way to transport your tree to the compost site, or simply want to upcycle your tree on your own, there are many options to do this from your home.

If you’re crafty, you can try your own hand at making something from your Christmas tree. Some people have taken cuts from the base of the trunks to use as rustic looking coasters. You can drill a hole in the top of these round discs, pull a string through the hole, and make ornaments to hang on future trees. You can cut up the trunk into slivers that act as mini stepping stones in a pathway through your garden.

Others have set up their used tree up outside in their yard, turning it into a giant bird house and feeder. The tree acts as a shelter and place of refuge for wildlife during the cold months. You can hang bird feeders on the branches as a place to give wildlife a treat throughout the colder months. You can also string together fresh orange slices or popcorn to attract the birds to your tree.

If you live near a body of water, some place Christmas trees at the bottom of ponds, rivers and oceans to create new underwater habitats. These habitats allow for a place of refuge and feeding areas for the fish.

Another, more obvious use, is chopping up the tree to use as future firewood for your wood burning stove or for the next bonfire season. You can also turn your tree into mulch for your garden beds or for walking pathways if you have access to a woodchipper.

Regardless of which avenue you choose to recycle or upcycle your tree, we strongly encourage you to extend its life rather than sending to the landfill. Mother nature, wildlife, and the earth will thank you for reducing your carbon footprint.