"Christmas trees are biodegradable. With their branches removed, they can be sent through a chipper and used for a variety of purposes, including mulch for gardens, playgrounds, and animal stalls. Sunk into backyard ponds, trees make excellent refuge and feeding areas for fish and other wildlife. Decorated with edible ornaments such as popcorn, cranberries and orange slices, they provide shelter for a variety of birds." (Read the full article by the Environmental News Network.)

What You Can Do
The bad news is that millions of discarded trees take up landfill space. The good news is that there are options.

1. Contact your city or town to find out about its recycling program. Most towns have a Waste Management Department or City Recycling Program who can help you.
2. Contact Keep America Beautiful. If your town or city doesn't offer a tree-recycling program, contact the national headquarters of Keep America Beautiful at (203)323-8987.
3. Call a local garden or landscaping center. Christmas trees can be turned into renewable mulch. If your city or town does not take your tree, perhaps a landscaper can use it.
4. Recycle all Christmas greenery. Christmas wreaths and swags can be recycled with the trees. Most recyclers ask that all metal and wire be removed.
5. Provide food for birds. Place your tree in the backyard and decorate it with orange slices, strings of popcorn, or suet. Kids might enjoy spreading peanut butter on pine cones and sprinkling it liberally with birdseed before hanging the cones on the tree for the birds.
6. Create a refuge for fish. If you have a large, private pond, sink the tree into it to create a refuge and feeding area for fish.
7. Buy live potted trees instead of cut ones. Living trees have a positive impact on the environment and on humans. Next year, buy a potted tree that eventually can be transplanted in the ground. Ultimately, alive tree does more good than a dead one.
8. Buy an artificial tree. These days, it is hard to tell the difference between artificial and live Christmas trees. With an artificial tree, you have no waste at the end of the season.
9. Contribute to an environmental organization. Peruse the JustGive Environment category and make a donation to an organization that helps preserve our Earth.

*Before you recycle your tree, be sure to remove all lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands and other materials that are not a part of the tree. Trees are ground up as part of the recycling process. Foreign materials can damage chippers and non-organic materials are not good for compost.