What to do with my Christmas Tree? (Durham, Cary: landscaping, disposal)

[Machine Head]

This is our first year with a real tree, now that the season is over I'm looking to toss it. (I assume I can't just put it out by the curb)

Whats the normal process for tree disposal down here?

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Originally Posted by Machine Head

This is our first year with a real tree, now that the season is over I'm looking to toss it. (I assume I can't just put it out by the curb)

Whats the normal process for tree disposal down here?

While you can just throw it out ...you might want to consider recycling it.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2218245/

[lamishra]

You can toss it to the curb or recycle it as NRG pointed out. Check your local solid waste pickup schedule for curbside pickup dates.

[welovedurham]

You can take it to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham for animal enrichment.

[RDSLOTS]

Here in Cary, they will pick them up at the curb, and recycle them. I also read somewhere that there are sites where you can carry a tree to have it chipped and turned into mulch.

If you don't mind doing this yourself -- pulling the needles from the tree and putting them in little sachets are nice to have for your drawers in the house. You can tie them in a little handkerchief, or make little sachets.

[MikeJaquish]

I need to pick a few from the curb myself. It is nice to watch the birds flit from tree to tree as they lay in my natural area. It is amazing how many ground birds will reside in a fair sized tree.
They don't have a chance with ours, since it will go back into the box tomorrow.

When I was a kid, we lived in a town of just under 400 people in central PA. On New Year's Day, the volunteer firemen would collect trees and take them to a field on the edge of town.
Heckuva bonfire, it was, that first night of the year.

[RDSLOTS]

Oh, wow, I had forgotten about the tradition of burning a lot of the trees -- does make for a beautiful bonfire, and smells great, to boot!

[PDXmom]

Originally Posted by RDSLOTS

Oh, wow, I had forgotten about the tradition of burning a lot of the trees -- does make for a beautiful bonfire, and smells great, to boot!

That state wide burning ban kind of puts a damper on that idea.

[Tarheelgrandma]

If you're near the north Durham area, the Little River Regional Park is accepting Christmas trees to use in development of the park - landscaping, bridges, etc.

[cmrick23]

Little River Park is not recycling Christmas trees. Read this post from a park employee there:

[url]http://www.city-data.com/forum/raleigh-durham-chapel-hill-cary/222410-christmas-tree-recycling.html[/url]

You can take it to the Eno River State Park:

Eno River Association ~ Education, Advocacy & Conservation (broken link)

Text from enoriver.org:
Why take up space in the landfill when you can donate your Christmas tree to Eno River State Park? Trees will be used for trail renovation and erosion prevention. Please bring your tree to the park office for donation between December 26 - January 14. Remember to strip the tree of all decorations and remove the stand. No artificial trees! . For further information contact the park office at 919-383-1686.

Or you can wait for the city of Durham to pick it up on your normal trash day, but I'm not sure if whether they just throw it in the landfill or if they recycle it:

[url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2218245/]Don't Toss That Tree, Recycle It :: WRAL.com[/url]

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