Now that the holiday season has come and gone, it’s important to reflect on the impact our fun and festivities can have on the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that American household waste increases by 25% from Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s, and this generates more than 1 million tons of trash in our landfills. As we take down our decorations and get ready for the new year, one of our goals should be to reduce the holiday waste that we have left.
Although it may be too late to take back the ripped up wrapping paper or retrieve tossed out tinsel, one way that you can immediately reduce your impact is by recycling your Christmas tree this January. Despite being a living, breathing plant, the carbon footprint of a real Christmas tree is close to 8 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). This is equal to driving your car for approximately ten miles.
When you dump a Christmas tree in your trash bin, it begins decomposition once it gets to the landfill and starts generating methane gas. As it decomposes, the carbon footprint of your Christmas tree jumps up to 35 pounds of CO2e, and if you multiply this by the 30 million real trees sold each year, that ends up being over 1 billion pounds of CO2e just in the United States. You can reduce your impact by recycling your tree this year and every year after. Check out some tips to recycle your tree below.
Tips for Recycling Your Real Christmas Tree:
- Drop your tree off at a recycling center: Your local area or county will typically have a recycling center that you can take your used tree to, so do a quick search on the internet to find the one closest to you. Most will take up to two trees and recycle them free of charge. If you do drop your tree off on your own, remember to transport it inside your car or securely fasten it to your car roof so that you don’t cause accidents on the road.
- Arrange for curbside pick up: An easier way to recycle your tree is to have your trash provider pick up your tree for recycling at your curb. Your provider will most likely pick up your tree in the weeks following Christmas, but remember to remove any decorations like lights and ornaments before putting it on the curb.
- Turn it into yard waste: Another simple way to get rid of your tree without sending it to the landfill is by chopping it up and disposing of it in your yard waste.
- Call a nonprofit for pickup: Look into nonprofit organizations in your community to see what services they may offer. Some Boy Scout troops will perform tree pick ups for recycling for a small donation of $5-$10.
- Donate to a tree recycling or mulching program: Your local department of public works may have a tree recycling program that turns your old Christmas tree into mulch. This mulch can be repurposed in your yard or garden. The program will have certain pickup dates for your area, so check with them to make sure you don’t miss it.
Even though the holidays are over, there are still ways to start reducing your festive waste. Try out one of these methods for recycling your real Christmas tree and make it a resolution to continue to reduce your holiday waste next season.
Source: National Christmas Tree Association | Image Source: TurboTenant
