12 Days of a GREEN Christmas- Day 9: Disposing of Christmas Trees

On the first day of this series we talked about choosing a sustainable Christmas tree. Once Christmas is over is even more important to know how to dispose of your trees.

Disposing of a real tree:

Many cities and counties have Christmas tree recycling services that will pick up your trees off the curb and turn them into mulch.

If curbside pick-up is not an option, you could also cut it up and add to your yard waste bins.

Dropping off your tree at a recycling center is another option, if your recycling center offers yard waste collection.

Composting your Christmas tree:

Absolutely! If you have a compost heap, the branches make a great base for the pile. The tree can be added to compost easily if it has been mulched or chopped into smaller pieces.

Burning your tree:

If you live inside city limits burning your tree outside will be unacceptable. However, using the wood for fire wood in an outdoor firepit is fine. However, not a good idea for an indoor fire, the sap in the wood can stick to the inside of the chimney and cause a chimney fire.

Donating a real tree:

Some organizations are happy to accept real trees to be used in wildlife preserves or wetlands. Some trees are placed in lakes to form new fish habitats or along shores to prevent erosion.

Flocked trees:

Flocked trees cannot be recycled because they are “flocked” with a chemical. These need to be chopped up and placed in your regular trash.

Disposing of an artificial tree:

Fake trees cannot be recycled. But if your tree still has life left in it consider donating it to a thrift store, senior center, retirement homes, nursing facilities, hospitals, or schools.

There are ways to repurpose your tree before sending it to the landfill. You could repurpose them into new decorations such as clipping off branches and make a wreath, a centerpiece, or add fluff to another garland.

To dispose of your tree artificial tree into the trash you will need to make sure it fits in your bin, schedule a bulk pick up, or drop off at your local landfill.

Charlotte and surrounding areas:

Waste Connection of Charlotte / Advance Disposal

• Curbside Pick-up days: Begin Jan 1 to Jan 15 (Picked up according to your regular scheduled trash and yard waste days)
• No pieces larger than 4 feet. The trees must be able to fit in the truck.
• Mulched- They are taken to the landfill along with the yard waste and mulched.
• Flocked tree- Not accepted curbside. Must be disposed of with trash.
• Artificial trees are to be disposed of in regular trash, cannot be left on curb.

City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services

• Curbside pick-up begins on first pick up day following Christmas.
• No size limit
• Mulched- They are taken to the landfill along with the yard waste and mulched.
• Flocked tree- Not accepted curbside. Must be disposed of with trash.
• Artificial trees are to be disposed of in regular trash, cannot be left on curb.

Full services recycling centers in Mecklenburg County

• These sites should accept up to 2 Christmas trees for free.
• Locations:
  • North Meck Recycling Center
  • Foxhole Recycling Center
  • Hickory Grove Recycling Center
  • Compost Central and Recycling

Tiger World

• Rockwell, NC
• They accept donated trees and let the tigers play with them!
• Last year they gave 1 free admission per tree.