As beautiful as the Christmas season was, disposing of the Christmas tree is a nuisance. Many cities and municipalities are accommodating to their fellow citizens, so that they do not have to carelessly throw the disused tree into nature. The disposal options are varied and mostly free of charge.

Christmas trees are picked up at certain locations in January

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. time of disposal
  3. Use alternatively
  4. How to dispose?
  5. Disposal by location
  6. frequently asked Questions

    7. the essentials in brief

    • In most cities, Christmas trees can be picked up from January 6th, or can be dropped off at public collection points in January. Anyone who has missed the deadlines can contact green waste collection points or composting plants.
    • Incorrect disposal can result in penalties. Alternative uses for decorative purposes or for handicrafts are better. Zoos are happy to accept old trees.
    • Before disposal, the trees must be decorated, as decorative items are hazardous to the environment. In the big cities, the waste companies are responsible for accepting the trees.

    When the Christmas tree ends up in the garbage

    Ever since the IKEA dispose of Christmas tree advertisement, many people have been tempted to simply throw their dead Christmas tree out of the window. However, you should avoid what the advertising exaggerates. Such actions pollute the streets and mean a lot of work for the cleaning services.

    When to dispose of?

    After January 6th, the Christmas tree will be picked up in Germany

    While in Sweden, Norway and Finland the Christmas tree is traditionally left up until St. Knut's Day, Germans dispose of their Christmas tree at the latest after the Epiphany on January 6th. Only rarely is the tree left standing until Candlemas on the second of February.

    Information in brief:

    • Garbage disposal usually offers pick-up appointments after January 6th
    • Christmas trees are placed in the designated areas in front of the house
    • Collection is usually free

    digression

    IKEA and St Knut's Day

    This day is named after the King of Denmark: Knut IV the Holy. It is also called "tjugondedag jul" in Swedish, which means the 20th day after Christmas. This day falls on January 13th and ends with a highlight for children, because they are allowed to plunder the remaining sweets from the tree. Candles and jewelry are then removed so that the tree can be disposed of. IKEA used St. Knut's Day as an opportunity for an advertising campaign and now celebrates the festival of Knut every year.

    missed appointment?

    If you missed the pickup date, there are alternative ways to dispose of your Christmas tree. You can either take the tree to a public collection point in the municipality and city, or chop it up and put it in the organic waste bin. Whether disposal in household waste is permitted depends on the respective municipality.

    Christmas trees are accepted here:

    • recycling center
    • compost plant
    • designated collection points
    • green waste collection points

    Delivery to zoos and animal parks

    Zoos sometimes feed Christmas trees to their animals

    Some zoos and animal shelters accept dead trees to feed the needles to animals. Donkeys and goats are among the main consumers of disused fir trees. They eat the needles and like to nibble on the branches. For other animals, the trunks offer an ideal activity or a creative way to offer food. Fir trees are often decorated with oranges, pieces of apple or other food balls and presented to the animals.

    However, only red and silver fir are accepted, since other coniferous trees contain substances that are difficult to digest. Inquire in advance if there is a need at the respective contact point. Zoos often get the unsold Christmas trees from the dealers and are already oversupplied.

    Pine needles are high in vitamin C, which is good for zoo animals in winter.

    Alternative use of old Christmas trees

    When the Christmas tree has had its day, you can give it a second life. Wild animals, beetles and insects are happy about a shelter in the garden that offers them protection from the cold and predators. You can also use the dried material for decoration purposes.

    Video:youtube

    grave decoration

    If the tree still has reasonably fresh branches, you can cut them off and use them as winter grave decorations. Place the fir branches on the grave and decorate it with Christmas roses in flower pots and pine cones you have collected yourself. The branches are not only for aesthetics, but also protect the soil and the plants wintering in it from frost.

    provide a habitat for animals

    Delimb the Christmas tree and shred the trunk. Pile the material into a heap in unused spots in the garden. Dig a pit at this point and mix the excavation with gravel. Fill the pit with the material to create additional retreats.

    When piling up, make sure that hedgehogs, squirrels or shrews can crawl into the shelter through suitable openings. The pile of brushwood decomposes over time, so it should be renewed before each winter.

    How to properly dispose of Christmas trees

    Before disposal, the Christmas tree must be completely decorated. If you put the tree on the street with the Christmas decorations or the remains of tinsel and glitter spray, it will usually not be taken away. In order for composting plants to be able to use the material, no artificial substances may be present:

    • tinsel: Special waste, some of which contains lead, which is hazardous to the environment
    • artificial snow: contains carcinogenic chemicals and solvents
    • glitter spray: often with gold or silver containing pigments containing heavy metals
    • glass balls: are silver-plated inside with a silver nitrate solution

    Wrong disposal

    Disposing of the Christmas tree in the forest, in a field or in other remote places is not an option. Trunks, branches and needles decompose slowly, so an abandoned tree is considered garbage. In many municipalities and cities, this carelessness results in a fine.

    Discard an artificial Christmas tree

    The advantage of artificial Christmas trees is that they can be used for many years. However, if they have lost their beauty or are damaged, you can dispose of the material with the bulky waste disposal service. Recycling centers also accept the plastic.

    tips

    Artificial Christmas trees always stay fresh. With a few tests, you can put the longevity of real trees to the test. If the needles bend, they will soon be discarded. These must not trickle off when stripping against the direction of growth. If the trunk interface appears white and resinous, the tree is still fresh.

    Where can I dispose of my Christmas tree?

    Recycling centers accept decorated Christmas trees at any time

    Recycling centers can be found in all cities and municipalities that accept decorated Christmas trees during their opening hours. In big cities there is often an additional pick-up service so that the trees don't pile up on the streets. You can use the table below to find out who to contact if you have questions about disposal and how to dispose of your Christmas tree.

    Dispose of Christmas tree in contact person How to dispose? time costs
    Berlin city cleaning Roadside storage usually between January 6th and 18th for free
    Munich Waste management company (AWM) Delivery to collection points in schools usually between January 7th and 9th for free
    Hamburg city cleaning Leave trees smaller than 2.5 m at the roadside second to third calendar week for free
    Dresden Office for urban greenery and waste management Drop off at temporary collection points mostly between December 30th and January 13th for free
    Leipzig city cleaning Disposal at public collection points late December to late January for free
    Bielefeld Environmental Operations (UWB) Delivery to collection points in schoolyards and public places mostly between January 4th and 7th for free
    Cologne Waste management companies (AWB) Place trees smaller than 2 m next to the residual waste or organic waste bin on the day of collection from January 2nd for free
    Nuremberg Waste Management Company (ASN) Delivery to public collection points from January 7th for free
    Frankfurt Disposal and Service GmbH (FES) Collection of one meter long pieces by special vehicles between January 8th and 28th for free
    Stuttgart Waste Management (AWS) Delivery to central collection points usually until January 6th for free

    tips

    If you have missed all the dates, simply make wood from your tree for the next Easter bonfire. You can store the material on the balcony or in the basement.

    frequently asked Questions

    How can I dispose of my Christmas tree needle-free?

    A dry Christmas tree usually needs a lot of needles

    If you want to get your Christmas tree out of the apartment without leaving any needles behind, you should pack it up beforehand. For small trees, fully rolling up a heavy-duty garbage bag and placing it under the trunk will work. You can then unroll the sack upwards so that the fir branches bend in. Larger specimens can be wrapped in cling film in a similar manner. Since this creates a lot of waste, you should avoid the tree drying out from the start:

    1. store in a cool room at ten degrees before setting up
    2. Resaw the cut to improve water absorption
    3. place in a pot filled with water
    4. do not place too close to the heater
    5. Spray branches and needles with water daily

    Are there sustainable alternatives to the conventional Christmas tree to avoid waste?

    The concept of rental trees is becoming increasingly popular. The Düsseldorf-based company Happy Tree offers fir trees for rent in some cities. You get the goods delivered potted and can set up and decorate the tree in the living room.

    In the new year, the tree is picked up again together with its pot and then planted or further cared for in the bucket. You can reserve a tree for up to four years. Many hardware stores now also offer planted fir trees that can be planted out in the garden after the Christmas holidays.

    How much does it cost to dispose of a Christmas tree?

    While delivery to public collection points or collection by cleaning services is free for private individuals, some green waste collection points or composting plants charge a small fee. Check with the relevant office beforehand, as the costs vary depending on the location.

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Trees