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Tree experts are encouraging Mississippians to recycle their live Christmas trees

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by
Shamira Muhammad
• Published on • Last modified on
A pile of live Christmas trees and wreaths lies on the ground at a park.
This Jan. 14, 2013 photo shows Christmas trees and evergreens brought to Prospect Park, by local residents for use in a recycling program, in Brooklyn, N.Y. The program, run by the New York City Department of Sanitation and the New York City Parks Department, recycles about 150,000 trees a year, turning them into mulch for use in parks, playing fields, community gardens and for residents’ personal use in urban backyards.
(AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz)
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Nothing elevates the holidays like a real Christmas tree. But as the holidays wind down, many start to wonder what to do with their evergreens. There are up to 30 million live Christmas trees sold every year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

Shamira Muhammad

Tree experts are encouraging Mississippians to recycle their live Christmas trees

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Curtis VanderSchaaf is an assistant professor with the Mississippi State University extension service. He says putting trees out with the trash means they will likely end up in a landfill, which is bad for the environment.

“Your decomposition is going to create methane gas, which is thought to be 28 times worse than CO2.”

According to the EPA, methane is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. VanderSchaaf says using the tree to create other materials provides environmental benefits.

“Composting or chipping it, using it for mulch or maybe just putting it in your backyard where it's not in a landfill and the decomposition is more at an aerobic rather than anaerobic conditions,” he said. “I think it's better for the environment.”

Jeff Wilson is also an assistant professor with the Mississippi State University extension service. He says trees could potentially be placed back in nature.

“If you put it into the forest or the wooded area, it's going to drop its leaves or its needles almost immediately,” Wilson said. “And then over time the wooden part of the material will break down and decay.” 

Kazery Farms is one of about 30 Christmas tree farms in Mississippi. Owner Don Kazery says there are even more practical things to do with a live Christmas tree.

“Let's say if you have an opportunity or know where you can put your tree in a lake or a pond,” he said. “You need to weigh it  down and get it away from the shore. And then it's a great habitat for fish.”

Many cities and counties offer tree recycling programs after the holidays.