Like your Christmas tree - go Green!

The festive season wouldn’t be the same without a decorated tree.  In Gloucestershire alone, it’s estimated more than 76,000 real Christmas trees will be bought.  The good news is that a growing number of us are buying rooted trees that can be planted in the garden and reused the following year.  When they grow, the trees absorb carbon dioxide, a potentially harmful greenhouse gas.

Sales of potted and container grown trees have flourished, as growers have responded to demand from the public.

However, even if you have opted for a cut tree, they can be easily recycled at your local Household Recycling Centre.  Gloucestershire County Council operates 5 centres, which are open everyday between 8am and 4.45pm, with the exception of Christmas Day and New Years Day.  Tree growers and garden centres in the county may also offer recycling facilities.

Real trees are 100% recyclable.  They are initially chipped, shredded and then composted to produce mulch or soil improver.

Meanwhile the majority of artificial trees are made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), an oil derivative.  When they are no longer wanted, such trees usually end up in landfill, where they are not bio-degradable.  Think about extending the life of an artificial tree by giving it to a local group or charity shop.

Below are details of your local Christmas tree recycling procedures:

Forest of Dean

Christmas trees can be included with your garden waste collection, please cut them up especially if they are large trees.

Tewkesbury Borough Council

Trees will be collected by Tewkesbury Borough Council please call 01684 272354 for more information. Click here for locations you can take your tree for recycling.

Cotswold District Council

Either cut into sections and put in your garden waste wheelie bin or take it to the following centres by 13th January 2008:

Dobbies Garden World Fosseway Garden Centre, Siddington, Cirencester. OR

Fosseway Farm/Stow Road, Glos. GL7 6EU Moreton-In-Marsh, GL56 0DS

Gloucester City

For those that have a garden waste collection service you can put your tree in small sections into your green bin.

Cheltenham Borough Council

If you live in Cheltenham you can take your Christmas trees to be recycled at Swindon road recycling centre.

Trees under 6ft will be collected from households who are serviced by the green waste kerbside scheme. Trees should be left (whole) next to any green waste bags presented.

Stroud District Council

Stroud District Council's usual recycling collection service for Christmas Trees will be in operation between Friday 28th December and Monday 14th January 2007. Click here for more information.

Please note: Anyone taking tree cuttings to the HRCs – ie. Branches – they must be less than 1 metre in length.  You may have to cut them down to size before you transport them to a site. This is because the compacting equipment that the green waste goes into often struggles with pieces longer than this.