RECYCLED CHRISTMAS TREES GIVE TWICE

Does your community offer a Christmas tree recycling program? If not, nudge your town leaders to investigate the possibilities of implementing one. Chipping discarded Christmas trees not only saves significant space in landfills. The resulting wood chips can be used on park trails and as tree mulch in city plantings, and sometimes the mulch is offered free to residents in spring. The service is an especially welcome service for apartment dwellers and homeowners with small properties and no easy way to dispose of the trees.

Residents should make sure when they place their trees on the curb for pickup that all lights, tinsel and ornaments, including those little metal hooks, are removed.

Austin, Texas, is credited with establishing the first large-scale Christmas tree recycling program.