With Christmas right around the corner, decorations are starting to go up and the scent of pine is filling living rooms everywhere. But have you ever wondered about the environmental implications of Christmas trees? Is it better to buy a real one every year or reuse a fake tree?
Real vs. Fake Christmas Trees
As it turns out, the answer might not be as straightforward as you would have hoped. In 2011, the American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) commissioned a study to examine the environmental implications of growing and producing live and artificial trees. While fake trees draw upon resources like oil to produce the plastic, real trees usually require at least a decade’s worth of water, soil, etc.
When the materials involved in the process of manufacturing artificial trees is weighed against the resources necessary for growing real ones, fake tree decorations are only more environmentally friendly if they are used for over 7 years—any less and the real tree, though only used once, has less of an impact. As far as disposal goes, fake trees end up in landfills while real ones can be composted.
In the end, each type has its merits and detriments. As long as you take care to reuse your artificial tree or compost your real one, we can all have a happy holiday season.
Always Recycle Responsibly with CJ Environmental
While we can’t recycle your artificial Christmas trees or compost your real ones, we can help you make the most of any unwanted presents that you may receive underneath your tree. Whether you get a new phone and want to recycle your old one or you get a gold necklace that just isn’t your style, you can sell them to CJ Environmental for cash! We’ll ensure that everything is properly disposed of and recycled, and you’ll get cash in return. The process is easy, safe, and secure–click here to get started today!
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