Arbor Day Foundation Encourages People with Live Christmas Trees to Recycle Them Sustainably

LINCOLN, Neb., Dec. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Arbor Day Foundation encourages the millions of Americans who celebrate the holiday season with live trees to recycle them afterward.

"One of the things the Foundation knows well is trees," says Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. "Having a live tree during the holidays is a great way to celebrate the season, and knowing how to recycle them afterward is a great way to celebrate the earth. We hope to encourage people to find out different ways they can positively impact the environment by recycling their trees."

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, 25 to 30 million Americans use live trees to celebrate Christmas. Here are a few ways the Arbor Day Foundation recommends recycling old Christmas trees sustainably:

1.     Make firewood from the trunk. Most Christmas trees are evergreens, making ideal firewood for outdoor fires. Evergreens tend to burn hot and fast, making them suitable for bonfires.

2.    Spread wood ashes on gardens to help plants thrive, as it's filled with nutrients. The ashes are also helpful in keeping insects away.

3.    Mulch or compost the tree to keep yard trees healthy and moist during the cold winter season.

4.    Intact trees can attract wildlife, despite the tree no longer being alive.

5.    Trees in bodies of water become fish feeders. To dispose of the entire tree, check with local officials to see if trees can be dropped in a nearby lake or pond, as they become a thriving reserve for fish when left in water.

6.    Branches of trees can be used to protect garden beds. Limbs of trees can be cut off and laid down on the garden bed to protect plants from cold, frozen weather.

7.    Green needles on trees make ideal fresheners. If the needles on the tree are still green, they can be stripped and stored in paper bags or sachets to use as fresheners in homes.

8.    Create rustic-looking coasters from trees. Cut 1-inch wood coasters from a tree that has been completely dried. Make sure to varnish coasters before use.

Most real Christmas trees are grown on farms to be harvested for the holiday season. Every time a tree is removed from the farm, it is replanted. For this reason, Christmas tree farms offer the same benefits as community trees and forests; cleaning the air and water, removing carbon, stabilizing soil, and more. Real trees ultimately prove to be ideal as they are biodegradable and can be recycled after the season. The Arbor Day Foundation is the world's largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. The organization's mission is to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees, even during the holidays.

Learn more about recycling your holiday tree.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters and valued partners. Since 1972, more than 400 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival.

As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

Media Contact

Jeff Salem, Arbor Day Foundation, 4024732024, [email protected]

SOURCE Arbor Day Foundation