Be a good neighbor: Dispose of your Christmas tree in a clean, safe manner
Wrapping up the holiday season means taking down the tree and putting away the decorations. We can’t help you with the lights and ornaments, but when it comes time to dispose of your tree, we’ve got some help for you. Or rather, some good information on disposing of your tree responsibly.
City and county governments throughout the region have organized a host of resources to help you dispose of your Christmas tree this year. Please consider using one of the available professional services before burning your tree.
- Clallam County: Recycling & Yard Waste Collection
Also note that in the Sequim area, Scouts offer Christmas tree pickup, disposal | Sequim Gazette - Grays Harbor County: Welcome to Grays Harbor County Solid Waste
- Jefferson County: Jefferson County Solid Waste
- Mason County: Christmas Tree Recycling News
- Pacific County: How to dispose of or recycle a Christmas Tree
- Thurston County: How to dispose of or recycle a Christmas Tree
For additional help, visit How to recycle | National Christmas Tree Association
Bird habitat
If you can’t get rid of your tree easily, put it to use. Anchor it in a corner of your property and place a bird feeder nearby. Songbirds will appreciate having a place to rest that provides cover from roaming cats, wind, and rain between meals at the feeder. You can also use the tree as a feeder itself.
Make a DIY bird feeder from an old Christmas tree
- Take off all the tree decorations. If you used home-strung popcorn strings (using cotton thread only) as a tree decoration, you can leave that in place – the birds will love it.
- Find a location where you can enjoy all the action. Make sure the birds are safe from flying into windows.
- Attach the tree to a secure location (a fence or another tree) using rope or bungee cords.
- Redecorate the tree with safe and healthy bird food. Fat, protein, and carbohydrates are what birds need to survive cold winters. Foods like peanuts and birdseed include vitamins and minerals, which can help produce healthier eggs and chicks.
For additional information, visit www.orcaa.org or call (360) 539-7610.