Christmas Trees (Real) Organics Special Instructions Athens Services composts holiday trees and foliage (if once living). The trees are processed and recycled into nutrient-rich compost that can be used in agriculture, public parks, and landscaping. Disposal Instructions (real trees)– Remove stands, ornaments, lights, and tinsel. – Learn about Christmas lights and how to responsibly dispose of them.– If your tree is more than six feet in length, please cut it in half. – Collection instructions may vary per city. Please visit our website for additional information or visit your dedicated Athens Services city page. Check out this video which details Athens’ process of holiday tree recycling. If you miss the tree pickup day, cut up your tree and place it in the yard waste container. If you do not subscribe to an organics collection, please place cut up tree into the trash container. Artificial trees and trees with flocking or fire retardants are NOT recyclable.These items will be treated as trash and sent to a landfill. Artificial trees are considered bulky items, please check with your city page for collection options and instructions (residential or commercial). Bulky Item collection options may vary depending on your city. To schedule a bulky item pickup place an order online or call Athens’ Customer Service Department at 888-336-6100. Rent a TreeConsider renting a live tree from the Living Christmas Company. Real Trees vs Fake Trees?Which is the more environmentally friendly choice, real or fake trees? Click here for more information. Remove All Ornaments, Lights and Tinsel Before you recycle your live Christmas tree, make sure that it is free of all ornaments, lights and tinsel. Flocked Trees Are Not Recyclable If your tree has flocking (sprayed-on fake snow), it can’t be recycled and will have to go in the trash instead. Ways to Reduce Decorate a Potted Tree Instead It may be unconventional, but skipping the traditional Christmas tree (real or fake) altogether and decorating a potted tree you’ve bought or have in your home is a truly green way to have a tree for the holidays. Buy a Rooted Tree and Plant It After the Holidays Next holiday season, buy a tree with roots (it can be balled and burlap or containerized) and plant it in your yard after you use it. Did You Know? Christmas Trees as Job Creators According to the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), the Christmas tree industry employs more than 100,000 people in the United States. The Environmental Benefits of Christmas Trees Although they’re planted just to be cut down and used as a decoration once they’ve reached maturity, Christmas tree farms have a positive impact on the environment. Each acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen for the daily needs of 18 people.