Oh leftover Christmas tree, how flammable are your branches? Every year, thousands of households must dispose of live evergreen trees used as part of the Christmas holiday tradition. Some experts suggest that a live Christmas tree should be kept indoors no longer than three weeks, since it could become a fire hazard after that time.

There are actually several different ways to dispose of a Christmas tree properly, depending on the local governmental services available. Some cities designate specific times for curbside Christmas tree pickup. Once all of the decorations have been removed, along with the stand, the Christmas tree should be carried out to the same location as other garbage or yard waste receptacles. On the specific day of pickup, a city sanitation vehicle will arrive to cart away the leftover Christmas tree.

Other cities may offer a free Christmas tree mulching program. Owners of former Christmas trees can transport them to a designated area, where trained workers will feed the limbs and trunk through a powerful mulcher. The finished mulch will eventually be recycled as plant cover for city-owned trees or offered to the general public as a free gardening product. Homeowners can also rent a portable mulcher for Christmas tree disposal if commercial services are not available.

A homeowner may also choose to convert an old Christmas tree into an outdoor bird or small animal feeder. Once the Christmas tree has been removed from the home, it can be filled with suet and various feeds. The branches can provide shelter for small animals or birds during the winter months. Once spring arrives, the Christmas tree can remain as a natural shelter until it disintegrates, or it can be converted into ground cover for plants and other trees.

Some wildlife management organizations also accept leftover Christmas trees for use in wildlife refuges and lakes. Former Christmas trees could be placed in deep woods for shelter, or sunk in a lake to form habitats for fish. Homeowners who wish to dispose of a Christmas tree in an environmentally sound manner should contact local wildlife management agencies for additional details on Christmas tree recycling programs.