JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Now that the holidays are over, it's time to take down the tree. But, it doesn't have to go to waste. If you had a live tree this year, Kansas State University forestry expert Charlie Barden says there are lots of ways to recycle it.
One idea is to cut off the branches and use those to cover your plant and protect them from the cold weather.
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You could also tie the tree up to your deck and use it as a bird feeder. cover pinecones in peanut butter and bird seed and it will be a nice treat during the winter.
And many areas allow you to do a tree drop-off. Depending on where you donate it decides how it will be used.
"Usually the state parks will have a drop-off area for people to drop off their Christmas trees and the state park staff collect all those and put them in various state fishing lakes. Usually the city drop-off, the curbside collection of trees, those trees will be ground up for landscape mulch to be used in the park and they're sometimes made available back to homeowners of the area," said Barden.
A word of caution: Do not put the tree in your fireplace. It doesn't have enough moisture and will cause sparks.
For more information on how to recycle your tree go to The Florida Christmas Tree Association website www.flchristmastrees.com.
From Advanced Disposal's residential website AdvancedDisposal.com:
For many of our customers, we collect Christmas trees on your regularly scheduled collection days during the first two weeks of January. Please remove all tree bags, ornaments, tinsel and stands. Find your local facility to understand exceptions or restrictions.
Christmas tree information from the City of Jacksonville's website COJ.net:
Christmas trees surely are nice decorations, but their improper disposal can be a problem. Illegal dumping, especially at area schools, is the biggest problem. Please DO NOT DUMP CHRISTMAS TREES AT SCHOOLS; IT IS ILLEGAL! Proper disposal is simple if you follow these directions:
For residents who already have curbside recycling and yard waste collection (single-family households through quad-plexes), it's free and easy. Just set your unbagged tree out on your regularly scheduled yard waste collection day. Make sure to remove the tree stand, all decorations and ornaments, and no bags, please!
For residents who do not have curbside recycling and yard waste collection (e.g., apartment and condominium-dwellers), trees can be taken to a yard waste facility as listed below:
Old Kings Road Landfill
8540 Old Kings Road
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
(904) 768-5363
First Coast Mulch
11864 Camden Road
Jacksonville, Florida 32218
(904) 751-6495
Read our compost tips.