As the festive season comes to a close and many of us start to think about the new year, you may be wondering what to do with your Christmas tree. It is estimated that over 8 million trees are sold in the UK each year, and that can be a lot of potential waste! Here are some ideas for ways to make sure your tree doesn’t end up in landfill.

Recycle for charity

Many charities now run Christmas tree recycling schemes where they collect your tree in exchange for a donation. The collections are often done by volunteers and usually start in the first week of January. Try searching the term ‘christmas tree recycling scheme for charity’ on the internet to see if there are any near to you, or check your local paper.

Green gold

If you have a garden, you might also have a green waste bin. These are usually used for natural, pesticide-free garden waste and grass clippings. Once collected, they are taken to a composting site and are used in a variety of different ways including being made into nutrient-rich compost. If you have the tools for it, you could (carefully) cut your tree down to size and pop it in your green waste bin. Just make sure to take off all decorations so it can be processed easily. 

Christmas critters

Why not use your old tree as a festive wildlife hideaway for minibeasts? You can use the branches and chopped up trunk, bound together and placed somewhere in your garden. A bit like our insect hotel activity, it can be a great way to attract wildlife to your garden. The spaces made by piling the sticks and branches together are perfect spots for invertebrates to shelter.