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The great Christmas tree debate: real or artificial?

Find out whether a real or artificial Christmas tree is more environmentally friendly.

The answer to which is more environmentally friendly depends on how many times you re-use your artificial tree and how you dispose of your real one. 

Real Christmas trees

Some benefits of choosing a real Christmas tree include:

  • can be re-potted in your garden after Christmas
  • can be recycled at a Household Recycling Centre for composting
  • can be put in your garden waste bin if you have one
  • can be shredded and used as mulch for shrubs and plants
  • if left to rot in the garden it is good for feeding nearby plants, wildlife, and insects 
  • supports local charities by using their Christmas tree collection service

Artificial Christmas trees

Some benefits of choosing an artificial Christmas tree include:

  • according to the Carbon Trust, if you re-use your plastic tree for ten Christmases, it will outweigh the environmental impact of having a real tree
  • money-saving as you don't have to buy a new tree each year

Find out more information about reducing waste when decorating for Christmas below.

Plastic-free decorations

You can make your decorations plastic-free by using alternatives to items like tinsel and plastic baubles. For example, use strings of cranberries and popcorn, or bake your own ornaments.

Find out more here:

You can also use natural items like holly, fir, twigs, branches, mistletoe, and pinecones to decorate your tree and home. If you do decide to buy decorations, choose high-quality ones that will last for many years.

Charity Christmas tree collections

If you pick a real tree, some charities will collect it for recycling in exchange for a donation. This is a great way to support a charity and avoid dealing with all the pine needles in your car! 

The following charities do Christmas tree collections:

  • (Worcester postcodes only)
  • (specific Bromsgrove and Redditch postcodes only)
  • (specific postcodes in Wyre Forest only)
  • (Herefordshire and 香港六合彩资料图库)

Other Christmas tree ideas

You can avoid the whole debate completely and opt for a different version of a Christmas tree, such as:

Useful links

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