Local experts offer tips of safe Christmas tree disposal

Disposal of Christmas trees can become an afterthought in the midst of busy holiday schedules, but SustainEd of Medina is offering a few tips to residents to make the process safer. The local environmental advocacy organization suggests simply leaving the tree in your backyard to decompose and feed wildlife and to check if your municipality does curbside tree pickup. Medina City does offer this service for two weeks following Christmas with trees taken to Smith Brothers Inc. at 3087 Marks Road, Medina, to be turned into mulch. You can also take your tree to Smith Brothers Inc. where it will be composted for a $5 fee. Residents are also urged to call a local goat farm since trees make a great snack for the animals as long as all tinsel and decorations have been removed. Medina County residents can drop their tree off free of charge at the Medina County Solid Waste District Facility, 8700 Lake Road, Seville. Those who choose to place their tree outside for curbside pickup are urged to do so the night before it is scheduled to be picked up due to how quickly a dried tree becomes a fire hazard. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a dried-out Christmas tree will burn faster than newspaper. For those who make use of artificial trees, experts suggest donating it to a local thrift store or to repurpose it into smaller decorations if it is approaching the end of its life. If neither of those are an option, take it to a local recycling center. Roughly 30 million Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. each year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. In some communities, old trees are used to fight erosion and support sand dunes at local beaches. This plan was used in 2012 and 2013 in New York and New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy's erosion of 3 to 3feet of beach elevation. Trees can also be stood up outside as a bird habitat or used for hiking trail material. Many can even be replanted if purchased with roots intact. Nearly 40 percent of home fires that begin with Christmas trees occur in January. One out of every 31 reported Christmas tree-related fires result in a death, compared to an average of one death per 144 total reported home structure fires that do not involve a Christmas tree, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Contact reporter Jonathan Delozier at (330) 721-4050 or jdelozier@medina-gazette.com.