HOMES & GARDENS: Fir the Sake of the Environment, Recycle

With about six million cut fir trees bought every Christmas in the UK, people are being encouraged to recycle their festive spruces, writes Stefan Kucharczyk.

The call for the environmentally friendly disposal of the trees, backed by the Royal Horticultural Society and local councils across the country, is part of an effort to ease the seasonal pressure on landfill sites, the traditionally unseasonal resting place for the millions of unwanted trees every year.

Only about ten per cent of Britain’s Christmas trees are recycled, with another five per cent planted in the garden for re- use the following year.

But local authorities are making the disposal of unwanted trees after Twelfth Night much easier.

Most recycling centres and household waste depots will accept old Christmas trees, where they are chipped and sold for use as garden mulching material.

Alternatively, the region’s local councils have established a number of dedicated recycling services as a place for residents to dispose of their unwanted trees.

Birmingham City Council is planning for Christmas tree recycling centres to open in four of the city’s parks.

Based at the Lickey Hills Country Park, Woodgate Valley Park, Sutton Park and Sheldon Country Park, the recycling services will be accepting trees from today until the end of the month.

Trees will be shredded and composted on site, with the mulch used as a soil improver across the city’s public gardens and parks.

Birmingham city councillor John Alden has vowed to lead the way with the recycling plan, announcing that the Christmas trees used to decorate Birmingham over the festive period will be recycled at the designated centres.

Residents are also encouraged to recycle their Christmas trees at home by shredding them in the garden or by instead buying ready- potted trees which can be planted out after Christmas and re-used the following year.

Wolverhampton City Council Use Bantock Park, Hickman Park and Northycote Farm. From Jan 9, trees will be collected along with green refuse bins.

Warwickshire County Council Dedicated centres in Stockton, Rugby’ Prince’s Drive, Leamington Spa and Burton Farm, Stratford-Upon- Avon.

Worcestershire County Council Household waste sites across the county will accept trees. Christmas tree compost can be bought from most of the sites.

Walsall Council Use the waste recycling centres at Fryers Road, Leamore and Merchants Way, Aldridge.