Don’t miss the full story, whose reporting from Jessica Damiano at The Associated Press is the basis of this AI-assisted article.
Americans can avoid contributing to the 10 million Christmas trees that end up in landfills each year by repurposing their holiday trees as garden mulch, wildlife habitat, firewood or donating them to community recycling programs.
Some key facts:
• Anaerobic decomposition in landfills causes trees to break down slowly over the years while generating greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.
• Christmas tree branches can be used as winter mulch to insulate soil and protect bulbs and perennial root crowns from freeze-thaw damage.
• Tree trunks can be cut into segments, dried for six months, and burned as firewood in fire pits.
• Pine needles do not significantly lower soil pH and are safe to use around garden plants.
• Submerged Christmas trees in large ponds create valuable shelter and hiding places for fish.
• Trees placed in yards provide winter shelter for nonmigratory birds and other wildlife, especially when bird feeders are attached.
• Many communities offer tree collection programs that chip trees into free mulch for residents or use them to fortify sand dunes and counter erosion.
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
