Reduce, reuse, and recycle Christmas trees

As the holiday season comes to a close, Delawareans are encouraged to recycle their real Christmas trees to reduce waste and give back to local organizations. 

The Boy Scouts of America Troop 95, an organization based out of Georgetown, has hosted an annual Christmas tree disposal fundraiser to help defray the cost of their camping trips to Gettysburg and northwestern Pennsylvania, accepting donations of $15 for each tree collected.

For the past three years, members in the community call in their address so small crews of scouts can conquer tree pickups across different towns: Lewes, Rehoboth, Millsboro, Milton and Georgetown. This holiday season, the scouts collected around 125 trees, with about 45 of those trees going to local goat owners who feed their furry companions the pine scraps. The rest of the trees went to Eastern Shore Forest Products, where employees mulch the trees.

“We plan on doing it next year and the year after that,” said Louise Rathfon, committee chair for Troop 95. “We collected our highest amount of trees this year.” 

Another group of teenage boys, the Bagel Bombers Dear 15U travel baseball team, hosts an annual fundraiser to cover the cost to play in tournaments. Players go around Sussex County to pick up live pine trees and donate them to various goat farms and recycling centers throughout Sussex County for a $20 pickup fee. This fundraiser has been organized since 2021.

Delaware Solid Waste Authority advertises that locals should bring their Christmas trees to DSWA landfills, transfer stations and collection stations for $7.50. There is a proper way to dispose of these trees; the DSWA only accepts real trees, and they must not include lights, decorations, skirts, stands or other accessories.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control says on its website that yard waste is banned from all Delaware landfills. The best way to handle yard waste is to compost or mulch it on-site. In Sussex County, A. Piazza Nursery and Landscape Solutions, Blue Hen Organics, Millville Organics, Mr. Mulch, STI Landscape Solutions and more accept Christmas trees.

When recycling and donating live Christmas trees, ensure they are stripped of all holiday decorations to make recycling an easy process.