Recycle Your Tree

Now that Christmas is over it is time to take down your Christmas tree. If you own an artificial tree, you probably already know how to safely store it away for next year. But what do you do with a live tree? Recycle your tree.

Many city and town lawn care collection agencies notify residents when they can put their tree on the curb for Christmas tree recycling pick up. County environmental offices also offer free or small fee recycling, allowing drop offs for certain times and dates. Some agencies require special bags or bins for the trees. Check your area for rules and regulations concerning how to prepare a Christmas tree for recycling.

Another way to recycle a Christmas tree is to remove all ornaments, lights and tinsel. Then strip the needles from the branches and lay them over gardens to use as mulch. Some places will do this for you with a fee. Snow covered climates can use this to keep dormant plants warm until spring thaw.

Recycling Christmas trees for scent includes creating potpourri. Remove the needles and dry them. Use a re-sealable bag or container to mix the needles with desired spices, and herbs and place in a cool dark area for a few weeks. Shake this mixture once a day. Display in a festive bowl or plate, place in sachets, or give as after Christmas gifts to friends and family.

Dried Christmas tree needles and small strips from branches make great embellishments for handmade paper and paper mache items. True, this requires very little amount from the tree, leaving a lot left over. Cut the branches and layer them outside for a bird to use, or stand the tree outside for the same reason. Or start a back yard compost. Slice thick trunks and dry the wood for interesting canvases in painting and wood burning.

Dry branches for wreathes to later decorate with spring type flowers. Make a basket weaved from copper tubing and pine needles. Use small dried twigs and needles to make unusual artwork against acid paper and hang in UV resistant glass frames.

Unlike live tree recycling, most areas do not cover artificial Christmas tree recycling. Some cities and town recycling pick ups allow metal and plastic together in one bin, but most require owners to separate the two materials.

For more ideas on what to do with real and artificial Christmas tree leftovers, search online with keywords "Christmas tree recycle".