ENVIRONMENT Prolong use of Christmas trees via recycling efforts

Multiple methods offer environmentally safe ways to dispose of your holiday tree.
COLUMBUS -- Live-cut Christmas trees can be recycled in a variety of environmentally friendly ways once the holiday season comes to an end, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
"Recycling Christmas trees is a great way to prolong their usefulness and a wise alternative to discarding them into our landfills," said Ron Kolbash, chief of the ODNR Division of Recycling & amp; Litter Prevention. "Each year, more Ohio communities 0are making it easier to recycle trees by offering convenient drop-off locations and curbside pick up."
Chipped and shredded
Christmas trees are often chipped and shredded into landscape mulch or compost for local park districts and municipal projects. They can also be turned into wildlife habitat. I
ndividuals interested in recycling their trees should contact their local recycling and litter prevention office or solid waste district for details. A complete list of communities with Christmas tree recycling facilities, along with locations and times, is available on the ODNR web site at ohiodnr.com.
In communities that do not provide Christmas tree recycling collections, there are other ways to recycle trees right at home. Trees can be chipped and composted.
Benefit to wildlife
Adding composted material to a garden improves soil, reduces weeds and helps retain soil moisture. Backyard wildlife can also benefit from recycled Christmas trees, says Vicki Mountz of the ODNR Division of Wildlife.
"On properties that are suitable, people can build brush piles from Christmas trees, providing cover for Ohio's mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles," she said.
Brush piles make ideal homes and nest sites for some wildlife species. They are very effective near field borders, as well as undeveloped areas in suburban yards, Mountz added. Multiple trees build the most successful habitats, so Mountz recommends asking friends and neighbors for their Christmas trees.
Christmas trees can also be placed in farm ponds to attract fish and increase habitat. A weight, such as a cinder block, must be attached to the tree to sink it and keep it from floating to the surface.
Mountz also suggested that people wanting to dispose of their trees in an environmentally friendly manner should contact local conservation and wildlife clubs that might be sponsoring tree collections.
Important points
ODNR offers these important points for recycling a Christmas tree:
URemove all trimmings such as tinsel, ornaments and garland
USeek permission before discarding trees on private land or in private ponds
UCheck with officials before dropping trees off at the nearest park or lake. Discarding trees without permission could draw a littering charge.
XCheck ohiodnr.com for specific Christmas tree recycling information