Difficult to Compost Compostables: Christmas Trees

Are Christmas Trees compostable? If they are not artificial trees, then of course they are! They are organic material, so they are going to decompose over time. But are they a good fit for your backyard compost? Let’s break down the components of your Christmas tree.

Are your decorations compostable?

Take off your ornaments, your ribbon, your garland, and your lights. If you opted for natural decorations, like a popcorn or cranberry garland or some dried oranges as ornaments, you can put those straight into your compost pile! Be sure to check if the thread is compostable, and if not, deconstruct before adding. Your lights can be stored for next year, along with any other non-compostable items. If you are not looking to keep these items, drop them off at a local reuse center if possible!

Do you want to compost your tree needles?

There are positives and negatives to composting tree needles. Christmas tree (and other evergreen) needles have a waxy coat over them. This keeps them from clumping together and extends the time of breakdown. If you need better aeration of your compost pile, adding a few may not be a bad idea, but keep in mind that your compost pile’s decomposition rate is already much slower because we are in the mostly dormant, winter months. You CAN use needles as a mulch, especially for acid loving plants. Pine needles also can be repurposed as a fire starter, drawer freshener, soap, or more.

What can you do with your tree?

Christmas trees can be substantial in size. You want material that goes into your backyard compost bin to be small enough to break down (usually within the season). If you don’t have a chipper in your backyard, it could take years for a tree to fully break down, and you may just not have enough room in your compost bin to wait that long. Check with your local community to see if they have Christmas tree pick-up or drop- off programs. If not, Hamilton County is still accepting trees at these drop off locations on Saturday, January 13^th, 2024, from 12-3pm.

Hopefully these tips will help you best manage your tree as you are starting your new year. Speaking of New Year, don’t forget to set up some compost resolutions using tips from some of our past New Year blogs here:

My New Years Composting Resolution

New Years Resolution: Feed my Soil

Happy Composting!

Guest Blogger: Sam Plante