Recycle Your Christmas Tree With These Creative Ideas

Christmas Tree Recycling: Creative Uses

After your Christmas tree has adorned your home and served as a festive backdrop to your celebrations, why not give it back to Mother Earth?

Here are a few creative ways your tree can keep spreading joy throughout the year:

• Natural barriers: In areas prone to erosion, local governments have used discarded Christmas trees to serve as barriers against sand and soil erosion. Other areas also use recycled trees to guide hikers along trails with natural and sustainable materials. 
• Swimming with the fishes: If you have access to a private pond, give your tree a burial at sea. Needles and branches provide a space for fish to hide, and the decomposing tree attracts algae for them to eat. If you don’t have access to a pond, look for a hunting or fishing club in your area. These organizations often collect Christmas trees for this purpose.
• For the birds: Prop your tree in your backyard to shelter songbirds from the bitter winter winds, and give them a place to nest. Hang fruit slices or strings of cranberries or raisins to attract the birds and small mammals. 
• In the garden: Consider saving your tree until after the snow melts, when it can be a boon to your garden. The tree itself can be composted or mulched, adding nutrients to the soil that will help your plants grow. Smaller branches and needles will also insulate your perennial plants, making sure those April showers really do bring May flowers.

If you prefer to recycle your Christmas tree in a more traditional manner, read on to learn how to properly dispose of it.