To make it useful: Repurpose the parts

It’s easy to give your Christmas tree a second life after the holidays. “One of the most beautiful things about Christmas trees is how much they can give back, even after their decorating days are done,” says Pranga. The needles can be spread in flower beds as a natural mulch—daffodils in particular benefit from acidic pine needles, setting the stage for beautiful spring flowers. Most towns offer recycling programs that create pine mulch from castoffs, which you can pick up for free to use in your landscaping. Also smart: Contact a local zoo or wildlife center, says O’Connor. “They’ll often sink Christmas trees into lakes to make habitats for fish, or give them to elephants or polar bears as toys!”