By Ed Marroni

As the Christmas season draws to a close, those of us who have fresh cut Christmas trees are faced with the task of how to dispose of them. This carbon sucking plant gave its life so that the tradition of having a decorated tree to heighten the celebration of the season would be enjoyed by you and me. If you are like me, the Christmas tree has become sort of a friend who brightens the household.

Recycling is one way to thank the tree for giving of itself so an air of celebration would hover over the household. There are, at least, two ways of enabling the tree to continue its service to our Earth. Most cities have Christmas tree recycling programs, so check with your local department of waste.

Some cities transform the trees into a valuable resource–mulch. Mulch conserves soil moisture and keeps plants healthy, promoting plant growth in our parks and gardens. I live by the coast, which also offers us the opportunity to recycle our Christmas trees by having them used to protect wetland areas by slowing down wave action and reducing erosion.

These recycling programs enable the trees to continue contributing to a healthy Earth.