A survey in 2007 revealed over 70% of people wait until after New Year’s Day to get rid of their Christmas trees.

Before sending your live-cut Christmas tree to the trash, remember that it can find new life after the holidays. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) reminds Ohioans that their trees can be recycled for a variety of uses including mulch, compost and wildlife habitat.

"Mulching, chipping or composting Christmas trees after the holidays is a wise alternative to just throwing them in landfills," said David Hanselmann, chief of the ODNR Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention. "Many Ohio communities are making it easy for residents to recycle cut Christmas trees by offering convenient drop-off locations and curbside pick up."

Many local park districts and communities shred Christmas trees for mulch and compost. Trees can even be transformed into wildlife habitat, providing shelter for some creatures during the winter months.

Individuals living in communities without recycling programs might consider chipping and composting their holiday trees. Adding compost to home gardens improves soil quality, stores moisture and reduces weeds. Using Christmas trees to create outdoor brush piles makes ideal homes for wildlife. Trees can also be weighted down and sunk in farm ponds to attract fish and increase habitat.

Before disposing of a live-cut Christmas tree, remember to remove all trimmings including tinsel, garland, lights and ornaments. Be sure you have proper permission before discarding your tree on public land, private land or in ponds. Discarding trees without permission could result in a litter violation.