Looking to go with a greener alternative this holiday season? Then you’re probably wondering: Is it better to have a real Christmas tree, or go with a reusable, artificial tree? The short answer is: The real tree is the better choice for the environment. The long answer is, like most green decisions, it's nuanced.
It may seem like a fake tree, reusable year after year, makes more sense. That may be true if you are buying that tree from a second-hand store and truly reusing something that someone has already discarded. But buying a new artificial tree has many drawbacks, the first of which is the toxic chemicals used to produce it. Most plastic trees contain PVC, the “poison plastic” as described by the
Center for Health, Environment and Justice. The great majority of artificial trees are produced overseas and shipped to the states, Once they are landfilled, they do not decompose quickly and PVC additives leach into groundwater.
Ok, so what about a real tree? Should you go out and buy any real tree you find? The conventional Christmas tree industry, like all big agriculture, uses chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and ships its product across the country. While the trees are growing, however, they produce oxygen, and provide habitat for many animals. If you dig deeper, and buy a locally grown, sustainably produced tree, the benefits become clearer. Not only is the land planted year after year with young trees, many small family operations only use fertilizer judiciously, to contain costs and prevent runoff.
Henry Anderson, of Osseo, Wisconsin, for example, uses a bucket and ladle and fertilizers only the roots, and only where a soil test indicates nutrient deficiency. Check with your local tree seller to find out if the tree farmer uses pesticides or practices integrated pest management, which relies on the interaction of pests with their environment to control problems. Also make sure your tree seller is selling a locally grown tree, so fossil fuel use is decreased.
In contrast to the artificial tree, what happens to the real tree once Christmas is over? In the Twin Cities, most trees are composted. In Minneapolis, if the tree is left for garbage pickup (no ornaments, cut in half if longer than six feet), it will be picked up and chipped into mulch or composted. Check with your municipality for specific information.
If you are up for a tree being in your backyard for a few months, animals will use it for shelter and the tree will dry nicely. Then you can spread the needles on your acid loving plants, cut the branches for kindling, and use the trunk as a lovely garden barrier! Happy Holidays!
Karen O’Connor is an organic gardening expert and co-owner of Mother Earth Gardens in South Minneapolis.