It's the most wonderful time of the year for most people, however, it's not always a wonderful time of the year for our planet. With all of the buzz around the holidays, it can be easy to forget about sustainability and put recycling on the back burner. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to easily start making recycling part of your holiday plans, starting with your Christmas tree! If you choose to use a real tree, that is.

Christmas trees are an excellent source of renewable resources that can benefit many, such as local wildlife, the soil, or local organizations. Just remember to remove all lights, ornaments, and hooks before donating or using it for any other purposes.

1. Donate your tree somewhere they can reuse it

Many local non-profits take Christmas tree donations and then reuse them for projects in the community. If you can’t drop it off at one these, check with your city and see if they have a program in place for removal. Some cities have a tree pickup services available for two weeks following Christmas.

2. Make a natural fish habitat

Have you thought about dropping your tree in a lake or pond? Christmas trees are perfect for fish because they promote algae growth (food) as well as provides them protection. Just make sure all hooks, lights, and decorations have been removed. Also, if your tree has any preservatives or chemicals on it, then it’s best not to use it for this purpose, as a safety precaution. Save the fishies!

3. Make a bird feeder

Are you a nature enthusiast? You might be a bird watcher in the making if you re-purpose your tree appropriately. Once you've removed all of the decorations you can then string out bird friendly food such as unsweetened popcorn, fruit, nuts and seeds. Birds and potentially other small critters will certainly be grateful for the extra food and shelter during the colder months.

4. Use it as Mulch

One of the easiest ways to reuse your Christmas tree is in the garden. The tree branches make an excellent mulch because they dry out quickly and decompose slowly. Their needlelike shape also allows them to bond together, making them less likely to wash away like other mulches. The needles is not all you can use of your tree, you can also take the stump and have it ground up into chips and spread it across your lawn for the same purpose.

5. Outdoor Firewood

Christmas trees make excellent firewood, but only for outdoor burning. Because the branches are highly flammable, it’s unsafe to burn them indoors. A mere spark sent across your home could quickly turn into a blaze. Also, remember to let the tree completely dry out before you burn it. Lastly, always be aware if your tree has been chemically treated it's best not to use it for this purpose.

6. Make Wooden Coasters

It may sound odd, but why not use the stump of your tree to make coasters? If your tree is large enough, you can make several and even give them out as DIY gifts. There are many great tutorials online such as this one that take you through step by step how to make them yourself. Since they will be exposed to moisture from beverages, it’s a good idea to use a natural wood preserver to keep the water from damaging the wood over time.

7. Make wreaths and decorations

Ready to get crafty? Making a wreath or household decorations is also a simple way to extend the life and use of your tree.

8. Buy live, potted Christmas trees

Did you know that you can buy potted Christmas trees that can be replanted in your yard? I know, why are more people not doing this? Not only will it benefit your soil and provide safety for animals, it's ads more natural beauty to your landscape. This could also be a great new tradition to start with your family, instead of cutting down a tree every year, you plant one. Everybody, including the environment wins that way.

The point is, there are dozens of ways that you can recycle your tree and benefit the planet. Why not start some new holiday traditions this year?

Corinna Henderson
Tagged: Natural Living