Christmas is a month-long event, starting with the shopping blitz the day after Thanksgiving and lasting until after New Year's.
Like all good things, the Christmas holiday season must come to an end sometime.
If you have chosen to take a traditional approach and use a live Christmas tree to decorate your house, you will have to dispose of the tree when the season is over.
Why It Is Important To Dispose Of a Tree Properly There are a number of dangers present in improper disposal of a Christmas tree.
Depending on where you live, the tree could become a fire hazard if it is allowed to dry out in an area where it can catch fire easily.
If you don't take care to remove the decorations properly, they could be attractive targets for birds and other animals, who could get sick or die from eating them.
Disposing of a Christmas tree improperly may also be against local or state laws - in some places, people have been fined or sent to jail because they didn't follow the rules when getting rid of their tree.
City or County Disposal Rules Most cities and counties that have municipal waste disposal, whether performed by municipal employees or contracted out, have certain rules in place for getting rid of a Christmas tree.
They may require that trees be picked up on a certain day, which may or may not be your normal trash pickup day.
If a city has hired a contractor to pick up trees, for example, the tree pickup day might not be the same day as your normal trash pickup.
It is very important that you follow the rules exactly.
Normally, these pickups require that all metal, plastic, glass, and other materials be removed from the tree.
Tinsel, in particular, must be taken off.
If your city or county has a designated location to drop trees off, the same amount of care that you used to bring the tree home should be used when taking the tree to the dropoff location.
Christmas trees can become dangerous road hazards if not secured to your vehicle correctly.
Do-It-Yourself Disposal Many families will choose to get rid of their Christmas trees themselves.
They can either recycle the tree for firewood and landscaping, or choose to have a bonfire to get rid of the tree.
If your family is able to use the trunk of the tree for firewood, it is important to make sure you let the tree dry out first in order to maximize the wood's efficiency in the fireplace.
This is especially important since you've probably been keeping it in water over the holiday season so that it wouldn't dry out.
If you are planning on having a post-holiday bonfire to get rid of your tree, it is again vital that all of the Christmas decorations are removed.
Tinsel, Christmas lights, and many ornaments can give off harmful fumes when they burn, which is not only bad for the environment, but can cause illness or even death to family members if inhaled.
You should also check with your city or county and make sure that bonfires are legal before proceeding.
By following these steps, you can ensure that the disposal of your Christmas tree is safe and legal.
Once it's done, you'll be ready to start planning for NEXT Christmas!