From next week, waste and recycling crews from Cherwell District Council will be collecting Christmas trees left next to blue recycling bins at the kerbside on collection day.
The trees will be taken to an in-vessel composting site at Ardley, where they’ll be composted at high temperatures before being redistributed to farmers as compost.
Councillor Dan Sames, Portfolio Holder for Cleaner and Greener Communities, said: “Another Christmas has passed, and the arrival of the twelfth night sees the decorations and lights coming down until next year.
“While we may miss the seasonal cheer our trees bring, as we say hello to 2023, it’s good to know that they can still be put to good use as compost.
“By helping to fertilise farmers’ fields and nourishing the food on our plates, we are starting the new year sustainably.
“Make a green start to 2023 by supporting the crucial work carried out by local farmers in our region by composting trees in addition to food and garden waste; and reducing the environmental impact of Christmas more generally.
“The team will see a 25 per cent increase in the weight of recycling over Christmas and new year as they are collecting people’s Christmas trees. That is the equivalent of eight full waste collection vehicles.”
To ensure safe loading and collection, large trees should be cut into pieces four feet tall or smaller. The pieces of the Christmas tree can then be left next to the blue recycling bin on collection day from 10 January to 20 January inclusive. A garden waste subscription is not needed for trees to be collected.
To ensure trees are ready for collection, residents should make sure all decorations are removed before placing them kerbside. Broken fairy lights and other small electrical items can be taken away by the crews if placed in a standard-size carrier bag and left on top of any bin on collection day.
Alternatively, residents with real Christmas trees that are still potted with roots are encouraged to care for them in their gardens until next year.
