Christmas tree doesn’t have to become mulch

The gift wrapping is shredded. You’re already planning to take back that ugly sweater.

Now, what to do with that old Christmas tree? You can always haul it to a recycling center, where it will be put through a chipper and returned to your community as mulch for hiking paths and such (see accompanying list of sites).

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Christmas is over, so the tree has to go.

• Where to take your tree

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But would that be fair to the fish? Here with a few pros and cons of various methods of disposal.

Fish habitat

Some fishermen (and fisherwomen) sink old trees into lakes and ponds to create fish habitats. Robin Hill of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources says the state no longer collects old trees for that purpose because PVC “porcupines” work better and don’t rot.

Pros: These fish “attractors” work well — for a while.

Cons: Downstream neighbors complain when the trees begin to disintegrate.

Sachets

Greenlivingideas.com suggests separating the needles from the branches and stuffing them into little sweet-smelling pillows.

Pros: “For you I pine” sachet-bags are better than cardboard tree-shaped automobile air fresheners.

Cons: You’ve still got naked evergreen branches left behind to dispose of.

Tree-burning party

Pat and Tim McNeely throw a tree-burning party every January on their farm east of Atlanta. Pat acknowledges the downside of the smoke, but the pair picks up trees that were otherwise headed toward the landfill.

Pros: For the hundred-plus visitors to the party, the blaze is an inspiring throwback to New Year’s bonfire traditions of old, and a graphic demonstration of out with the old, in with the new.

Cons: A few extra pounds of carbon make their way upward. (The average American is responsible for 24 tons a year, said Paul Burman of Carbonfund.org.)

Chipping

Probably the most environmentally sound method is to send the old tree to the grinder. Most communities around Atlanta have collection areas where residents can bring their trees free of charge.

Pros: Sweet-smelling mulch.

Cons: That Radko ornament you forgot to remove goes in the chipper too.