Part 1: How to Start a Christmas Tree Recycling Program

According to a consumer survey by the National Christmas Tree Association, 32.8 million trees were purchased during the 2005 holiday season. This means that approximately 28 percent of U.S. households nationwide purchase real Christmas trees. Nationally, the recycling rate for existing state and community recycling programs is 69 percent.

By implementing Christmas tree recycling programs, communities can save valuable landfill space as well as costly landfill tip fees. While most tip fees  hover around $20 to $40 per ton, they can range from $15 per ton to $70+ per ton, depending on your geographic location.

Looking to start your own Christmas tree recycling program? Here are some helpful tips and suggestions to get started:

• Clearly advertise the most important your program’s start and end dates and drop-off sites.
• Make any requirements (such as removing all ornaments, wire hooks, lights, tinsel, garland, nails, screws and stands) clear on all promotions.
• The best collection times range from the day after Christmas to the middle of January. For a short-term drop-off, the week after New Year’s is best.
• Utilize any local media to cover your event, whether that’s generating publicity beforehand to increase awareness of your program, or coverage afterwards to report the success of your recycling efforts. Prepare materials ahead of time to be distributed to media partners, making it easy for them to cover your program.

Below are more detailed suggestions to help set up your own program:

Partner Up

Community support is essential to establishing a successful Christmas tree recycling program. Get partners and sponsors involved early in the process, so that you know what resources are available for your program. You may want to send out an informational letter to businesses and organizations requesting their participation or inviting them to a planning meeting.

Many groups may want to participate in the program simply because it’s a worthy cause. Some of the benefits include:

• For businesses: A program can offer opportunities for positive public relations and the ability to get their name out in the community. Be sure to offer inclusion of their company name/logo on all signage and promotional materials.
• For civic groups: A recycling program could be used as a fundraiser. Groups could offer pick-up service for a small donation or collect donations at the drop-off site. The recycling event can be held in conjunction with an already scheduled community event, such as a fair or festival.
• For university/school groups: The recycling program could offer the opportunity to complete community service or volunteer requirements.
• For local government departments: This can be a valuable public relations tool with a minimum amount of investment. Mulch created by the program could be used for public works projects, such as park landscaping.
• Private waste management companies: These organizations may be willing to participate or donate services to avoid costly landfill tip fees.

Collection Options

The collection process is often the area of the program that requires the most resources, particularly in volunteer/staff time.

Below are some examples of how collection can be managed. Notes that many successful recycling programs utilize more than one collection method.

Example #1: Short-Term Drop-Off Site

Collection is typically managed as a one-day or weekend event. Consumers turn in their trees at the designated location(s). Staff/volunteers are present to either chip the trees on-site or load them up for another method of reuse.

Example #2: Long-Term Drop-Off Site

Residents drop off their Christmas trees after the holidays to an unstaffed location. The trees are then transferred to a central location or chipped on-site after the drop-off period is over. If desired, mulch or chips can be made available for pick-up by consumers afterwards.

Example #3: Curbside Pick-Up

Curbside pick-up could be incorporated into the route of an established yard waste collection program, or private haulers/waste collectors could be contracted to establish special routes. Another option is having volunteers and groups conduct pick-up for small areas and communities.

Another Route: Tree Rentals

A creative way to collect trees is to sponsor a “tree rental program.” When the tree is returned to the purchase lot for reuse or recycling, the sponsoring party will return a portion of the purchase cost. For example, a rental program may rent the trees for $10 less than they are sold but add on a $15 deposit, which is refunded upon the return of the tree.