Ask Eartha: What Type Of Christmas Tree Is Best For The Environment?

Dear Erta,

I want a real Christmas tree, but I'm embarrassed to cut the tree down. After learning about the impact of artificial trees, I wondered which option was better.

For some, there is nothing better than the sweet pine scent of freshly cut wood with twinkling lights, LEDs of course. For others, the holidays bring the habit of pulling that favorite tree, already decorated with lights, out of storage and fluffing it up.

Many Americans like to celebrate the winter holidays with a tree, and it's not always a religious symbol. When they each come up with their own Christmas story, which adventure will they choose?

Choose your adventure: real trees

Real trees have a positive effect on the environment. Like other plants, real trees in your home shed pollen and dust. Once cut down, Christmas trees continue to capture carbon and store it in their branches, roots and needles. Buying a real Christmas tree supports local gardeners and helps keep the forest healthy for generations. When it comes to real trees, the choice is yours.

Show and Cut: Commercial Christmas tree growers grow and cut trees that are sold to private individuals. The average age of the trees is 7 years and after harvesting they are replaced with three plants. Various Christmas tree farms In Colorado, they are found mainly in the Front Range.

Cultivation is usually carried out in areas where other crops do not take root. Tree planting helps control erosion and provides habitat for animals. If the perfect fluffy tree gets you into the holiday spirit and helps local businesses, a tree farm might be the adventure for you.

Research Needed: Last year, the US Forest Service issued more than 200,000 permits to plant Christmas trees across the country. Natural trees tend to have a lower density of branches, and this type of tree (and the step it takes) is a tradition for some.

Getting a Christmas tree permit is easy (and profitable for only $10!) Permits are available through the Forest Service on Recreation.gov. , Office of Regional Planning on site and in person at local ranger stations. Even better, if you have a fourth grader, you can get a free permit through Every Kid Outdoors. .

For lovers of snow cover and hiking, this could be an adventure for you. Local rangers will help you find logging sites and introduce you to the tree species, which is very important. Eventually you will need to collect all 10 essentials. for trips through the forest.

Festive comfort . For the ultimate convenience, you can order Christmas trees from online retailers like Amazon, who will deliver them to your door. Local day care centers as well as the Boy Scouts hold Christmas tree sales to support small businesses and raise funds. And many of the big stores in the area also have real trees. Even big chains get your real trees From the US or Canada.

A fake tree is just a fake.

Artificial trees are made of plastic and contain many chemicals and toxins. . However, this is what most people buy in the United States. According to a study by Rocket Homes, about 60% of people consider artificial trees to be environmentally friendly, especially because of their reusability. However, many of them were not created for centuries. And the ones that last are much more expensive. Keep in mind that 90% of the 10 million artificial trees sold each season are shipped from China, adding to the pollution from all that traffic. No matter how long you store an artificial tree, it will still end up in a landfill.

End of the game

Where the real tree ends up is an important part of this holiday adventure. In Summit County, use the designated drop zone. compost your tree in High County. Be sure to remove all decorations, ribbons, lanterns and coasters. It is also possible to burn your own real wood in a self-igniting fire. in Frisco.

For artificial tree owners, maintaining and storing the tree for many years reduces the environmental impact. When you're ready to remove it, recognize it it is the best option before it is definitely thrown into a landfill.

Remember that the tree is a small part of the season that is not really needed. This holiday season, I encourage you to come up with a zero-waste story that will last long after the halls are decked with holly boughs.