When the festive period is over and it’s time to pack away the decorations, you might be wondering what to do with an old artificial Christmas tree. Perhaps it’s losing branches or just looking beyond its best.
Artificial trees are made from a mixture of materials including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) metal and sometimes fabric, which make them totally unsuitable for your household wheelie bin – and even your recycling bins.
However easy it seems to just push your tree down into your household bin, don’t do it! Artificial Christmas trees discarded in this way end up in landfill, where they take up space and can leach harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater.
However, you’ll be pleased to know that you can take your old artificial Christmas tree to any Recycle for Greater Manchester (R4GM) Household Waste Recycling Centre, where it can be properly disposed of, at no cost.
If your tree is still in good condition, you might consider giving it to a friend or neighbour to us, especially if they’re just starting out or looking for a low-cost option. A local charity shop, community group, school or nursing home might also be very grateful of it.
Donating your tree is a simple and thoughtful way to give it a second life and reduce waste – and it could help bring a little extra joy to someone else.
Bringing your tree in a van, pick-up truck, or on a twin-axle trailer? You’ll need to apply for a free permit at least two working days before you visit. You can apply for the permit here.
When you arrive at one of the R4GM centres, our friendly staff will help you place your tree in the correct container so its various parts can be sorted and processed properly.
The materials that can be recycled will be, and the rest will be disposed of responsibly.
You can find a list of locations and apply for a permit at the R4GM website here: https://recycleforgreatermanchester.com/van-permit/
