Happening now: Un-decking the halls. If you celebrate Christmas, you know that sooner or later you have to deal with that “Night of the Living Dead” tree in the corner. That doesn’t mean it’s dumpster-bound. Instead, we have some tips on how to put an old tree to good use.
Curbside pickup
The City of Greenville will recycle your tree for you: all you have to do is bring it out to the curb for your neighborhood’s usual pick-up day. To make sure it gets properly recycled, you’ll need to remove the tinsel, garland, tree stand + ornaments before bringing it out.
Drop-off recycling
Maybe you just can’t wait for curbside pickup. Drop the tree off yourself at Holmes Park, Timmons Park, Gower Park, or the West Greenville Community Center until late January. Be sure to properly secure the tree to your car if you opt for this route.
Natural feeders
The Upstate is full of different bird species, so consider giving back to Mother Nature by making a natural bird feeder. Get creative with edible ornaments (think: orange-apple garlands and peanut butter pine cones), then set the tree out for birds to eat + take shelter. If your property includes a pond or lake, you can toss in the tree to make a natural reef, giving local fish a home.
Make your own mulch
When you take a tree to a recycling center, it’s turned into mulch, anyway. So, why not use it for your own yard + spring garden? Ideally, you could shred the tree — for example, Home Depot has mulchers for rent — but usually by the time the holidays are over, the needles will already be falling off. You can spread them in garden beds or over the lawn.
If you’re looking to pick up some tree mulch, it will be available at Twin Chimneys Landfill. The Greenville County website also has more information about mulch.
