What happens to our Christmas trees after we’re finished with them? Nowadays, that’s a question we have to answer for all of our consumer products. Fortunately, when it comes to trees, there are many ways to recycle and reuse them after the holidays are over!
Municipal Christmas Tree Recycling
Every year after Christmas, the city of Chicago sets up tree recycling depots in dozens of city parks. Most counties in Chicagoland also set up a tree pick-up program or have drop-off locations. What do they do with the trees? They recycle them into valuable garden mulch that’s used in municipal parks, and made available for residents to use on their own gardens, free of charge. To recycle your tree, it must be clear of all decorations, tinsel and not in a plastic bag.
Pick Up By a Local Non-Profit or Company
If you don’t have a vehicle or time to drop off your tree, you can also find several local companies that will pick up and recycle your tree for you. They’ll usually recycle them by composting or chipping them into mulch.
Fish and Wildlife Restoration
Sometimes wildlife conservation agencies, zoos, farms, or the state Department of Fish and Wildlife asks for tree donations for restoration projects. Your tree might find its way to a riverbank, where it can be used to restore fish habitat or to a new home for birds in a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary. Dead trees are valuable parts of natural ecosystems, where wildlife recycles them in many ways.
Craft It
If you’re feeling creative, you can recycle the tree yourself into woodsy crafts. Coasters, balsam fir potpourri, bird feeders, bird houses, and insect hotels are all fair game. Maybe you’re in need of a rustic coat rack or wood shelf? You can even whittle new Christmas decorations for your tree next year, if you’re feeling really woodsy.
A New Scratching Post
If your nails are getting long, the trunk of your Christmas tree makes the perfect scratching post. Well, maybe not for you, but your feline would certainly appreciate it. The soft, scaly bark is ideal for rejuvenating claws and getting a good back stretch. Just chop off the branches, saw it to size, screw it to a stand, and let the cat have at it!
Bring It Into Your Backyard
Your backyard is a miniature ecosystem of its own that can benefit from your Christmas tree. Set it up outside as a shelter for small birds during the winter, or use the boughs to insulate sensitive perennials during the cold months. When spring comes, chop up the branches, and make use of them in the compost. The trunk can be recycled as rustic garden edging or firewood for next winter.
Avoid the Landfill
One tree going to the landfill is not a big deal, right? It’s easy to think that way when you’re only thinking of your impact. But your tree is not the only one. Ten of thousands of other people in the city and surrounding areas bought trees as well. Instead of sending all of that valuable wood and needles to the landfills, we can easily recycle them into useful products.
The beauty of Christmas trees is that they stay green in the winter, reminding us of the life that carries on during the darker months. Let’s take a lesson from these evergreens and find valuable ways to let them live on. Whether as mulch in municipal parks, compost in our garden, kids crafts, or habitat for wildlife, Christmas trees have many gifts to offer, even after the holidays are over!
Platt Hill Nursery is Chicago’s premier garden center and nursery in the Chicagoland area.