Christmas Tree Recycling Tips

You may have already disposed of your Christmas tree, evergreen swags, and wreaths, but if you haven't already -- consider one of the following methods for truly recycling your once living tree:

~ Bird Feeder and Habitat: Prop your tree up along a fence to make a bird feeder and add color and excitement to the winter garden. Utilize orange slices, suet, seed, or peanut butter smeared on a pine cone. You can also string unsalted popcorn to attract the birds. This is especially lovely after a light frost or snow. Birds come for the food and stay for the shelter in the trees branches.

~ Mulch: Even if you don’t have your own chipper, you can still skip the local yard waste pick-up and make your own evergreen mulch. Use a good pair of pruners to cut the branches off and spread them on the ground as a "blanket" around your roses and tender perennials.

~ Firewood: Use the trunk and thicker branches for kindling/firewood in your fireplace, outdoor firepit, or patio Chimenea.

Pick one of these ideas or all three and remember to: reduce, reuse, recycle.

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If you want to put the tree out for pick-up, here are links to cities and counties in the DC metro regarding how to recycle your tree. This listing below was put together by the United States Botanic Garden Sustainability Team.
WASHINGTON, DC:

http://dpw.dc.gov/DC/DPW/Services+on+Your+Block/Leaf+Collection/Leaf+Collection+-+Holiday+Tree+Collection

MONTGOMERY COUNTY:

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/dep/solidwaste/collectionservices/material_detail.asp?categoryID=5

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

http://cms.princegeorgescountymd.gov/ExecutiveNews/default.aspx?itemid=25

http://www.washingtoncontinent.com/TWCstories/TWCnewspages2010/prince_george_10_1000064.htm

ST MARY’S/ CHARLES/CALVERT COUNTY MD:

http://somd.com/holidays/christmas/tree-recycling.php

HOWARD COUNTY:

http://www.co.ho.md.us/DPW/winter.htm

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

http://www.aacounty.org/DPW/WasteManagement/yardWaste.cfm

CITY OF ALEXANDRIA VA

http://alexandriava.gov/ (hit holiday tab)

ARLINGTON COUNTY

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/EnvironmentalServicesFaq.aspx#Xmas_tree

FAIRFAX COUNTY

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/recycling/calendar.htm

LOUDON COUNTY

http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=2957&zoom_highlight=Parks

GENERAL:

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=722&sid=1849898