Dear Recyclebank,

How are Christmas trees recycled?

Sarah J., Xenia, OH

Many towns and cities have drop-off locations and/or curbside pickup programs for Christmas trees in the weeks following the holiday. If you still have your tree, check with your local waste hauler or your city officials as soon as possible, since the deadlines for many tree disposal programs are in early and mid-January. Make sure to remove all the decorations and the tree stand before handing the tree off. This is crucial because of the way the trees are typically recycled.

There are a number of ways to recycle and reuse Christmas trees, since they’re a great source of nourishing and biodegradable material. Many are chipped in order to produce mulch, which some programs then make available for free to home gardeners. Other areas may use it in public spaces such as parks and hiking trails.

Mulch is far from the only use for recycled Christmas trees, though. Other initiatives include erosion control, additional shelter for wildlife in their habitats, and even rebuilding sand dunes. Responsible tree disposal makes a great final holiday gift to the environment!

SOURCES
National Christmas Tree Association
International Business Times
NYC.gov
City of Houston
Chicago Department of Streets & Sanitation