Tips to Trash or Treecycle in 2012

Your beautiful pine has lost its scent, and most of its needles–it's time to trash or recycle your tree.

In the Christian tradition, the tree is not supposed to come down until the day after Epiphany, also known as "Three Kings Day" and "Twelfth Day." In 2012, Epiphany falls on Jan. 6, although the celebration of the holiday is transferred to Jan. 8.

While there is much to be said for keeping with tradition, not every tree's expiration date will outlast the Epiphany deadline.

Trash

While there is no formal deadline for residents to place their trees curbside, Waste Management does ask that residents remove as much decoration from their tree as possible and cut all trees longer than 6 feet in half before placing them curbside. 

Residents may keep their trees in tree bags, but the length requirement still applies. Christmas trees are picked up at no additonal cost to customers.

WM will pick up trees on normal trash collection days.

For more information, or specific questions, contact WM Customer Service at 1-800-796-9696 or CustomerService_Michigan@wm.com. 

Treecycling

Macomb County does not offer any drop-off recycling locations for all residents, but more industrious residents can self-recycle their trees, or treecycle. 

Feed the Fish

Although a fish feeder might not be the first thing you think of when looking to recycle the Christmas tree, this is one organic option.

If you have a private pond, you can sink your tree, branches and all, into the pond, providing a future refuge and feeding area for fish.

Feed the Birds

You don't even need tuppence to use this method.

Once you have removed all tinsel, hooks and decorations from the tree, it can be placed in your backyard as a bird feeder. Fresh orange slices, or strung popcorn can take the place of ornaments and the trees branches will provide shelter for the birds.

By next Christmas, the tree will have started to decompose and can be easily taken apart by hand or placed in a chipper and used for mulch.

Mulch

A real tree is biodegradable and can be chipped into mulch for spring landscaping. Make sure the branches are removed and the tree is cut into sections before being placed in the chipper.

Danger, Flammable 

Because pines, firs and evergreens contain flammable turpentine oils, burning the tree can be a dangerous business. When the wood is burned, a substance called creosote is produced, which can leave deposits on a chimney or stove and result in a chimney fire.

The U.S. Fire Administration recommends against burning your Christmas tree. However, if you do choose to burn your tree, be sure the fire is started away from other structures. Natural trees become dry and brittle and will burn quickly, making the fire difficult to control.

Tips for treecycling provided by http://pickyourownchristmastree.org/MIxmastrees.php.