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Recycling Your Christmas Tree

Posted By Amy Harvell on December 23, 2013

Recycle Your Christmas TreeI recently read an article in the Indianapolis Business Journal where the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is encouraging Hoosiers to buy live trees grown in Indiana to help local farmers, the economy and the environment. However, each year after the holidays, I see an abundant number of Christmas trees on the side of the road or in a ditch. “I can’t believe someone dumped their tree there” is my first thought. Then it dawned on me, some may not realize how or where to dispose of their trees.

From what I have researched, you should never burn your tree in your home fireplace. Pine trees can create huge fires and send sparks across a room. So, we need to find other options for disposing of Christmas trees after the holidays. Here are three suggestions:

  1. Prune the branches from the tree and scatter them in the garden. The needles will help the soil retain moisture.
  2. Cut the branches and needles from the tree and use the trunk for an outdoor fire (e.g. firepit). Be sure to let the wood dry out to prevent a fire hazard.
  3. Recycle the tree through the services provided from your local community. I have listed some Indiana communities who have these services; you will also want to check your local government website for details.
      • The City of Greenfield Street Department provides collection services for downed tree limbs, Christmas trees and leaves. These materials are recycled by the department and converted to mulch, which is available at no cost to residents for their use.
      • The City of Frankfort offers curbside tree collection; the trees are then turned into mulch at the local saw mill.
      • The Johnson County Recycling District provides drop-off locations after the holidays at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, Center Grove High School, Indian Creek Intermediate School and McCarty Mulch.
      • The City of Indianapolis Parks Department is collecting Christmas trees at the following locations: Broad Ripple Park, Ellenberger Park, Garfield Park, Krannert Park, Riverside Park, Perry Park and Sahm Park.
      • The City of Evansville/Vanderburgh County holds a Holiday Recycling event every year to collect trees for mulching.
      • The City of Fort Wayne/Allen County has numerous locations available for recycling your holiday trees.

As in our video wish to you for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, I hope our advice is "instrumental" in the decision to dispose of your Christmas tree in an environmentally friendly and safe manner.

 

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