When to take your Christmas tree down, and how to dispose of it

When To Take Down Your Christmas Tree

If you have yet to take down your Christmas tree, you’re only in line with 20% of households in the US. A poll by online sources Bob Vila and Architectural Digest shows that most people keep their tree up through December. However, before January is over, you’ll want to take down your tree. An Opendoor.com survey found that 84% of Americans take down their Christmas decorations in January, and over half of those do so on or after New Year’s Day.

Choosing the right time to take down your tree will depend on the type of tree you have, your religious customs, and where you live. For those with fake trees, it’s up to you to decide. Some observant Christians take the tree down on January 6, the Epiphany. As for real tree owners, dry trees should be promptly removed, as they present a serious fire hazard. On average, US fire departments respond to 150 Christmas tree fires a year, and nearly 40% of them involve some type of lighting or electrical component.

They best options for Christmas tree disposal and recycling are dropping them off at local recycling centers, which many cities and towns offer or using the tree in your backyard to provide shelter for animals during winter. Other things can even be made from the tree. It is advised not to burn your tree in a fireplace or wood-burning stove, as the sap in the tree can create serious issues. Similarly, it should not be burned in an outdoor fire pit. Leaving old Christmas trees out with the trash is the worst way to dispose of them.