Saturday, December 29, 2007

O CHRISTMAS TREE BLUES

So Christmas has come and gone and you're faced with your annual dilemma–when to take down the tree and what to do with it. While we can't help you with the first half of your problem we can give you sponsible choices for the second.

The National Christmas Tree Association (Yes, there really is one) can provide you not just with myriad facts and figures relating to Christmas trees and the "treecycling" of them (see below), but a simple resource for finding a tree recycling service in your area.

Just enter your zip code in this nifty search engine, courtesy of earth911.org and let the tree continue to give its gifts long after its life and the Christmas season have ended.
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Treecycling
Treecycling is the act of recycling your Christmas trees so that they can be turned into compost or mulch. These trees contain valuable nutrients that can be used in other capacities. Before we learn more about the benefits of treecycling, here are some fun facts about Christmas trees:
  • There are approximately 30-35 million real Christmas trees sold in North America every year.
  • Approximately 175,000 real Christmas trees are sold via e-commerce or catalog and shipped mail-order.
  • North-American real Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states and Canada. Eighty-five percent of artificial trees are manufactured in China.
  • Real Christmas trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics.
  • For every real Christmas tree harvested, up to three seedlings are planted in its place the following spring.
  • There are about 500,000 acres in production for growing Christmas trees. Each acre provides the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people.
  • There are about 21,000 Christmas Tree growers in North America, and over 100,000 people employed full or part-time in the industry.
  • It can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree of average retail sale height (six feet), but the average growing time is seven years.
  • The top Christmas tree producing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington.
  • The top selling Christmas trees are: balsam fir, Douglas-fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine, and white pine.

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Christmas Tree Recycling Facts

In a national survey, 93 percent of consumers who used a real Christmas tree recycled theirs in some type of community program.

Christmas trees are recycled for five main types of large-scale uses for post-harvest trees. These are:

  1. Chipping (chippings are used for various things from mulch to hiking trails)
  2. Beachfront erosion prevention
  3. Lake and river shoreline stabilization
  4. Fish habitat
  5. River delta sedimentation management

Today around 98 percent of real Christmas trees are grown on farms throughout all 50 states and Canada. Real trees are a renewable, recyclable resource, and real trees are planted to be harvested just as corn and/or pumpkins are cultivated for a harvest.

For each real Christmas tree harvested, up to three new seedlings are planted in its place, depending on farm size and current field rotation. Young trees in their rapid growth years have a high rate of photosynthesis and thus produce more oxygen than older trees.

This year, over 60 million new seedlings were planted by Christmas tree farmers all over North America.

Source:
National Christmas Tree Association

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