Ideal Bite

Tree today, gone tomorrow?

Submitted by tmeronek on Thu, 12/27/2007 - 2:50am.

The Bite:

Not likely. It takes years for anything - even organic things like Xmas trees - to breakdown in a landfill. Finding a community tree recycling program is the way (for your tree) to go.

The Benefits:

Smaller landfills for the new year. Since most landfills are compacted so tightly, there's usually not enough air for trash (even trees) to biodegrade.
Chipping away at erosion. Tree recyclers turn trees not long for this world into wood chips, which can be used to help prevent erosion on beaches and hiking trails.
It's doofus-proof. Many cities operate seasonal curbside tree-recycling programs.

Personally Speaking:

For years, Heather's dad used to cut down a tree on the family's land, wrap it up, and mail it to her via UPS every Christmas. Clearly this wasn't the most sustainable option, but it always seemed to entertain the UPS guy.

Wanna Try:

Some municipalities handle the recycling - all you gotta do is leave the tree on your curb. Check with whatever company handles your garbage disposal and recycling.
National Christmas Tree Association - enter your zip to find a nearby recycling program.