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Communities Help Ensure Used Christmas Trees Don't Spoil the Environment
Each year, after Christmas, millions of trees end up in landfills or illegally dumped on public property. With a little effort, some communities have instituted programs that make sure the trees are recycled in an environmentally friendly way.
The city of Jacksonville, Florida implemented a free Christmas
tree pick-up and composting program this year after almost
a decade of fighting the illegal dumping of trees at area
schools. For more information on the Christmas Tree pickup
program, visit the City
of Jacksonville's Department of Solid Waste and Resource Management
.
Earth 911, a national non-profit foundation committed to
protecting the environment, set up a national directory for
locating the nearest program for composting Christmas trees.
The directory
will be updated on December 22.
The National Christmas Tree Association has ideas for communities for recycling trees:
The trunk and branches of Christmas trees can be used as mulch for gardens, parks or in animal stalls. The mulch provides a protective barrier for the roots of other plants and vegetation while preventing weeds from growing. The mulch then decomposes, providing the nutrients plants need to thrive.
Some communities use Christmas trees to make effective sand and soil erosion barriers, especially at beaches and on river beds. Sunk into private fish ponds trees make excellent refuge and feeding areas for fish.
Before recycling, Christmas trees can be used to make bird feeders, adding color and excitement to the winter garden. Use orange slices, suet, and seed to attract the birds. They will come for the food and stay for the shelter in the branches.
The University
of Wisconsin Extension Newsletter
has another creative use for Christmas trees, saving the needles
to create potpourri. Dry the branches, then remove and crumble
the needles. Mix the needles with cinnamon sticks, whole cloves
and Christmas scent. Place in jars to store. To create a pleasant
Christmas scent, add one cup of water to one-fourth cup potpourri
and heat it on a stovetop or in a potpourri heater. The potpourri
makes a great gift for next Christmas.