There’s still time to put your tree out for recycling

Spruces will be collected by council waste teams

Help is at hand to finally see the back of your real Christmas tree.

Council waste collections will pick up the spruces for recycling over the next couple of weeks.

With hundreds expected to be collected, they will then be taken to Thanet Waste’s recycling site in Sandwich and turned into compost.

Rob Davies, spokesman for Canterbury City Council, said: “Christmas tree collection takes place on the scheduled garden waste collection day in either the week commencing January 15 or 22.

“People should look on their collection calendar for the tree symbol to find their date.

“You don’t need to have a green-lidded garden waste bin. Those without one should leave the tree at the edge of the property where they would leave their rubbish bin.”

All decorations and the pot need to be removed.

Artificial trees cannot be recycled in this way. They should be disposed of by taking them to the nearest household waste recycling site.

Recycling is becoming increasing popular to ensure a good use for the estimated six million Christmas trees sold each year across the nation.

A spokesman for the Woodland Trust explained the options: “If you purchased a Christmas tree with roots, it is possible to plant it.

“The tree can even be kept in a pot if you haven’t got space to plant it in the ground in your garden.

“If your tree is in the pot that came from the supplier, we’d recommend you plant it in to a larger pot with fresh compost and then pop it in your garden to enjoy all year round. Next Christmas you’ll be able to bring it back into your house to decorate again.

“If you bought a felled tree this year, you’ll need to make sure it goes into your local council’s Christmas tree recycling scheme. These trees are usually chipped and used as compost.

“Putting it in with your general waste will contribute to landfill, which is again bad for the environment.”

‘If you bought a felled tree this year, make sure it goes into your local council’s Christmas tree recycling scheme’

Put your used Christmas tree to good use