TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Now that the holiday is over, you might be wondering what to do with your Christmas tree. If you bought a real one, there are a number of ways to get rid of it.
Real Christmas trees are biodegradable, and therefore can be chipped into mulch and reused for other purposes. Some municipalities have programs that repurpose trees into mulch. Many offer free curbside pickup and disposal.
Keep in mind, most artificial trees are made with polyvinyl chloride, and therefore cannot be recycled, so you’ll need to reach out to your local recycling center to see if there is any way they’ll accept it. You can always consider donating them to schools or local charities that can use it next year.
In general, most people should have these options:
Curbside pickup for disposal
Many communities will offer curbside pickup of natural Christmas trees after the holidays. Trees will be collected at no additional charge during scheduled yard waste collection days. Residents should do the following:
- Remove all ornaments and lights
- Ideally, cut tree limbs to 4 feet lengths
- Bundle limbs and branches and place curbside on your scheduled yard waste collection days
Here’s where to find more information about Christmas tree collection and yard waste removal services in your community.
Recycling/mulching programs
Some communities will accept limited quantities of mulched yard waste at county facilities during operating hours.
Here’s where to find more information about mulching programs near you.
Other ways to recycle your tree
- Cut it into firewood: Saw off the branches to use as kindling and cut the trunks into logs.
- Mulch it yourself: Consider chipping and shredding your tree and using the needles and branches as mulch in the garden