2023-12-28 08:23:13
Where to put the Christmas tree? Many people are now asking themselves that again.
He was beautiful. But in January he should disappear from the living room again. After all, more than 29 million trees are sold for Christmas in Germany, which means a lot of wood is collected.
Read all the important information about how best to dispose of your tree here.
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How long do I leave the tree standing?
According to Christian tradition, the Christmas tree stays up until January 6th, Epiphany. In some Catholic families even a month longer. According to Catholic custom, the Christmas season ends on February 2nd with Candlemas. And with it the time of the decorated tree.
Many households now dispose of the tree before New Year’s Eve or on New Year’s Day. The festive Christmas mood is replaced with joy for the New Year. By the time the tree has moved into the living room at the end of November, many families have long since had enough of it.
However, when brown needles adorn the ground, it is time to dispose of the tree.
Where can I put my tree?
The easiest way is to have the tree picked up by your local waste disposal company. In many cities and communities, Christmas trees are disposed of free of charge. The best way to dispose of the old trees is to shred them and put them in the organic waste bin.
However, your Advent wreaths belong in the residual waste bin. These often contain Styrofoam, plastic parts or wires.
No matter how beautiful the decorated fir tree looks in the living room, the time has come to dispose of it
Photo: picture alliance / Bildagentur-online/Schöning
Be careful where you leave your fir tree for collection. The tree should not hinder anyone on the side of the road. Don’t throw your fir tree out of the window regardless. Even if it saves you time, if the tree hits a car or a person, it can be expensive.
Many municipalities have now set up special collection points or containers. Recycling centers and green waste collection points also sometimes accept the discarded trees.
It’s best to find out more from your regional waste disposal company, in the official gazettes or on your municipality’s website.
Does the Christmas tree have to be decorated beforehand?
In any case! Balls and tinsel must be thoroughly removed from the tree. Even if the tinsel no longer contains lead.
The problem: According to the Federal Environment Agency, tinsel is considered hazardous waste. If the glitter threads with the Christmas trees end up in composting or incineration plants, the toxic lead is distributed into the environment.
What happens to the collected trees?
The used spruce, pine and fir trees are mainly shredded and then turned into compost. Or they are shredded into wood chips, burned in thermal power plants and used to generate energy.
They can also be composted in your own garden: shredded and rotted, the trees serve as good nutrients for your soil.
Tip: The branches can also be used to cover beds in the garden and protect them from the cold. Some zoos and animal parks also accept Christmas trees to feed to the animals.
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Can Christmas trees be burned?
Strictly speaking, the fir trees must be disposed of as vegetable waste. Many communities, clubs and fire departments now organize official dates for burning Christmas trees.
The tree can also be burned in your own oven. However, the wood should be dry enough and stored for a corresponding period of time beforehand. Christmas trees should not simply be thrown away in the forest or on the side of the road because they take a long time to rot. Anyone who does this is committing an administrative offense that can be punished with a fine.
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Are there alternatives for the next festival?
Yes. It is more environmentally friendly to give the tree a longer life.
Trees in pots, for example, can be planted in spring. When buying, you should make sure that the roots are intact, advises botanist Steven Jansen from the University of Ulm. Only then does the tree have a chance of growing in the garden after its Christmas use. To ensure that the roots survive their stay in your living room well, they should be careful when watering. Overwatering quickly leads to a lack of oxygen and the roots die. Another long-lasting alternative is to buy an artificial Christmas tree for the holidays.
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