Post-Holiday Uses for Christmas Trees.

When the holiday season is over, Christmas trees don't have to end up in the trash. There are environmentally friendly alternatives, suggests Joe Heimlich, associate professor of natural resources, Ohio State University, Columbus. "Some communities, in order to extend the life of landfills, are doing what they can to limit the amount of yard waste, including Christmas trees and other greenery, that goes into landfills."

The most common use for trees after the holidays is in a chipping program. Many communities have a site where trees are delivered on certain days, then ground into chips that are used as a mulch material that can be spread on park trails and around landscape plantings, or utilized as a bulking agent in sludge composting. A chipping program can be used as a fundraising effort, with an organization chipping the trees, selling the mulch, and keeping the proceeds.

In some programs, instead of donating the chips to a municipality or fund-raising organization, individuals can take the chips home for their own purposes. Depending on the situation, the trees may be chipped for free or for a small fee.

If a chipping program is not available, the trees could be used as artificial fish attractors in ponds or reservoirs. Sinking cut Christmas trees into ponds and reservoirs causes fish to concentrate in these areas, which improves fishing. Some fish hide in the branches to escape predators, others feed on snails and...