How to Recycle Your Real Christmas Tree in Manchester

One of the best things about a real tree is that it doesn't end up in a loft or, eventually, in landfill. Once Christmas is over, it can be chipped, composted or put to use in the garden. Here's how to get rid of it properly.

Getting it ready

Whatever you do with it, strip the tree completely first. Remove every decoration, light, hook and strand of tinsel, because tinsel especially gets caught in chipping machines. Take it out of the stand and give the stand a rinse before you store it. Our trees come with a flat trunk and no wooden block, so once it's out of the stand there's nothing else to remove.

Carrying it out wrapped in an old sheet keeps most of the needles off the carpet.

Council collections and garden waste bins

Each council in the areas we deliver to sets its own arrangements, including Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Trafford, Oldham and Rochdale, and Lancashire councils such as Burnley and Blackburn with Darwen. Most take real trees in January, either through a special collection or cut up in your garden waste bin, but the details change from year to year. Check your council's website in late December for this year's dates and rules, including whether the tree needs cutting to fit the bin and whether you need a garden waste subscription.

Don't leave a tree out on the pavement unless your council has told you to. It may not be collected, and it can count as fly-tipping.

Household recycling centres

You can usually take a real tree to your local household waste and recycling centre as green waste. Check the opening times first, and whether you need to book a slot.

Charity collections

Some local charities and hospices run January tree collections in exchange for a donation. Search for "Christmas tree collection" and your town in December to see what's running near you.

Using it in the garden

• Wildlife shelter: lean the tree against a fence or hedge for a few weeks and it gives birds and small animals cover in the coldest part of winter.
• Mulch: if you have a garden shredder, the chippings make a good mulch for borders and paths.
• Kindling: once the branches have dried out completely in a covered spot, which takes several months, they make good kindling. Never burn green wood indoors.

Why this matters

A real tree goes back into the soil within months, while an artificial tree eventually ends up in landfill. It's one of the reasons many people stick with real trees. We look at the other arguments in our guide to real vs artificial Christmas trees.

For looking after your tree while it's up, see our real Christmas tree care guide. And when it's time for next year's tree, order a fresh-cut Nordmann Fir and we'll cut it two to three days before delivery.