18th December 2024
As the holiday season draws near, Severn Trent Green Power is once again championing
sustainability by recycling Christmas trees from across Oxfordshire. This year, Green Power – based
near Enstone in Oxfordshire - is dedicated to giving every festive fir a new lease on life, transforming
them into nutrient-rich compost that will benefit local farmland.
As part of the Christmas message this year, Green Power has shared a short video on social media,
showing what happens to the trees after the holidays. You can watch it here:
https://youtube.com/shorts/3iGMdFWIAcw?feature=share
Local council collection teams across Oxfordshire will be gathering trees and transporting them to
one of Green Power’s three composting sites in the county.
Green Power teams will be hard at work after the holidays, shredding the trees and converting them
into valuable compost, which could even help grow the next generation of pines for next year!
Debra Barnacle, Client Liaison Manager at Green Power, said: “Everybody wants to make Christmas
memorable, and a part of that can be by having a real Christmas tree adorning your home. But
there’s no reason why, once the festivities are over, your tree should go to waste. Sending your tree
to be composted is a sustainable and convenient way for Christmas trees to be put to use long after
the last of the tinsel and baubles have been removed. Simply check your local arrangements and
your tree could soon be composted down and used to help grow new trees for next year!”
Oxfordshire residents with real trees to recycle can find out what to do using the table below. All
household waste recycling centres across the county will be accepting trees for recycling.
Steve Burdis, Technical Lead for Waste Contracts at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Recycling
your tree is easy and the process helps with soil regeneration. There are different options available, these include checking if your district or city council offers a kerbside collection service or a local
drop-off point, or bringing it to your nearest recycling centre. You might also consider replanting it
for next Christmas or composting it at home.
“For more ways to reduce your waste even further this Christmas, information is available on
the Climate Action Oxfordshire website.”
Three tips for recycling your Christmas tree this year:
- Remove all decorations, especially tinsel, before recycling your tree.
- If the tree is tall, cut it into three or four smaller pieces for easier handling.
- If your tree is potted with roots, consider planting it in your garden to enjoy next
Christmas.
