News Release 588

DEPARTMENT OFFERS TIPS ON
HOW TO DISPOSE OF CHRISTMAS TREES

Volume 35-588

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, DEC. 27, 2007 -- O' Christmas tree, what do we do with you now?  The holidays are a great time to gather a round a beautifully decorated tree, but what happens when the holidays are over? The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has a few suggestions on what you can do with your Christmas tree after the holiday season.

Yard waste is banned from landfills in Missouri so one of the most popular options for managing old trees is to chip them for mulch or as an additive to a compost pile.  The United States' most famous tree located in Rockefeller Center, averaging 85 feet tall, is mulched annually after the holidays into three tons of mulch and donated to the Boy Scouts of America for use at their camps.  Mulch reduces weeds, helps to regulate soil temperature and increases moisture retention.  Many cities and towns offer tree-chipping services after the holidays, so check with your local public works or sanitation department to find out.

A unique way to deal with your tree would be to turn it into a fish habitat in your private lake or fishing pond.  Once submerged, a Christmas tree provides a habitat for water insects, which attract smaller fish, which in turn attract larger fish.  To make your tree into a fish habitat, secure a cement block to the stump end of the tree with quarter-inch nylon rope.  Ideally, the top of the tree will be four to six feet below the surface.

If you do not have access to your own lake or pond, you may wish to contact both private and public owners of lakes and ponds to see if they would be interested in creating a fish habitat.  However, it should be noted that some such projects may require a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, so check with the owner first.

You can also help your friendly wildlife neighbors by decorating your tree as a food source.  After removing all of the decorations from your tree, redecorate the tree with food items that can be eaten by birds, chipmunks and squirrels.  These can include popcorn, cranberries or pinecones covered in peanut butter.  You can also hang apple rings or create a bowl from an orange that has had the juice and pulp removed and filled with unshelled peanuts. 

The tree will need to be secured so that it will not blow over with the first strong gust of wind.  The best method for securing the tree is to dig a hole and place the trunk of the tree in it.  You may also wish to stake the tree for extra security.  Not only will the tree provide a tasty snack when food is scarce, it will also serve as a haven from the harsh winter winds.

Some general things to remember about managing your tree after the holidays:

Through proper management, a reused Christmas tree may be a gift that keeps giving to the environment for years to come.  More tips are available on the department's Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/pubs/pub184.pdf. PDF

For more information on treecycling, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Solid Waste Management Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401 or visit the department's Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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