BY DANI TIETZ
dani@sjodaily.com
Santa has come, the presents have been unwrapped and the family ornaments have been taken off the tree.
Those with an artificial tree will pack it up for next year, while those with a live tree figure out what to do next.
The sooner a live tree can get out the door, the less likely it is to become a fire hazard. One of every four home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems or because the tree is too close to a heat source.
According to the National Fire Prevention Association, Christmas tree fires cause an average of three deaths, 15 injuries and $10 million in property damage each year.
Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home.
While chopping up a live tree and taking it to a land waste facility is an option, the reality is that there are several ways to dispose of it that will benefit the environment.
The Champaign County Forest Preserve District offers tree recycling options.
The Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Homer Lake Forest Preserve and Middle Fork River Forest Preserve will accept Christmas Trees for recycling from Dec. 26 through Jan. 18. Only undecorated live Christmas trees will be accepted.
Some of the trees are chipped for mulch, but others are placed in the lake to be used as an artificial habitat for aquatic species, especially fish. The trees provide protection, food and shade for young fish. In contrast, they also provide great ambush points for predatory fish such as Large Mouth Bass. The structures are hotspots for breeding and spawning.
Birds also benefit from repurposed live Christmas trees.
By placing your tree in the yard, away from your home, birds can find refuge from the bitter cold in the branches of the tree. Fresh orange slices and popcorn can be used to attract the birds.
It is important to make sure all decorations have been removed from the tree, though.
After a year, the limbs will become brittle and can be taken off by hand or in a chipper.
The chipped wood can be used as mulch for the garden or spread on hiking trails.
Indoor burning is not recommended. The sap from the fresh tree can create a fire hazard in your chimney or vent piping.
