6 Ways To Recycle Your Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree Recycling is a way to help the environment after the holidays are over.

Is your tree looking more like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and less like the beautiful green specimen that your family once adored?

Then it’s time to Reuse, Recycle and Repurpose that Christmas Re-Tree! Continue reading for 6 creative ways to give your old tree new life.

Some may argue that fresh Christmas trees are not a green option, on the contrary.

Most tree farms: raise their trees responsibly, are environmentally friendly, sustainable, provide homes to wildlife and pollinators, help clean the air, and plant 2 or more trees for every one that is cut, you can’t get much greener than that.

When the Christmas season is over?

There are eco-friendly ways your can dispose of your tree. Unlike artificial trees that: can not be recycled, off-gas chemicals, and are made overseas.

Did you make a resolution to be more green this year? I have some fantastic ideas that will help you keep your resolution and get rid of your Charlie Brown fire hazard.

#1- Compost or Mulch With Christmas Tree Recycling

Repurpose: Many Counties offer free pick up for your used Christmas trees so they can turn them into mulch, our county even offers the mulch back to residents for free!

Contact your local waste management authority to see if they offer this service. If not, you may contact a local tree service and see if they will mulch your tree for free.

#2- Help Make An Artificial Reef By Recycling Your Tree

Recycle: Help the fish and aquatic life with an artificial reef and donate your tree. If you live by the coast or by a body of water, the county may offer free pick up or a designated drop off site for your fresh tree. You can also contact your local DNR  and ask if they know of a place to take your tree for reef placement.

#3- Use Your Christmas Tree Needles to Make Potpourri

Reuse: Have you ever noticed how good it smells when you vacuum up your pine needles that fall off the tree?

For weeks after the holidays, every time I vacuum it smells like Christmas. Keep the scents of the season all year with natural homemade potpourri.

I sweep all my needles that fall on the floor and place them in a mason jar with a cotton ball or small piece of coal to use for potpourri throughout the year.

Homemade potpourri is free from petrochemicals, full of wonderful scents and makes a great gift.

#4-  Pine Needle Tea

Reuse: When life gives you pine needles, make pine needle tea! Pine needle tea has amazing health benefits and tastes delicious, best of all?? It’s FREE

You may not realize that Pine Needle Tea contains 4-5 times the Vitamin C of fresh-squeezed orange juice, and is high in Vitamin A. It is also an expectorant (thins mucus secretions), decongestant, and can be used as an antiseptic wash when cooled. So not only does it taste good, but it’s good for you!

Pine Needle Tea Recipe

Please Note: not all pine needles are safe, make sure you research the safe varieties to harvest from before making the tea.

# 5- Make a Wildlife Hotel by Recycling Your Christmas Tree

Reuse: After all of your lights and decorations are packed tightly away, take your whole tree and place it outside for your local feathered and furry friends.

The critters will love their new pine tree hotel. Offer them executive suites by making natural treats to place on the branches. This is a fun project to do with the kids during their Christmas vacation.

Add a little treat to your tree for the feathered and furry friends; spread peanut butter over pine cones and roll in wild bird seed

#6- Deck The Halls With Parts of Your Christmas Tree

If some of your branches are still showing signs of life, cut clippings to make: wreaths, swags, centerpieces and more!

There are a ton of great ideas on Pinterest. You can even cut the trunk to make ornaments for next year or turn them into drink coasters.

Do you have any ways to recycle a Christmas Tree that I didn’t mention?

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