Last Updated on August 19, 2023
Christmas trees are a central part of the way we decorate our homes to celebrate Christmas. A lot of the Christmas trees in homes throughout the country are grown in Suffolk. Forestry is something we do with aplomb. We’ve always seen having a Christmas tree as bringing a little bit of the Suffolk countryside into our homes, albeit without the squirrels.
Christmas is over, so what happens to our trees?
Christmas is now over for another year and it’s almost time to take down the decorations. Your Twelve days of Christmas are nearly finished. But when the time comes to take the decorations, tinsel and lights off your Christmas tree how will you get rid of your tree? Let’s have a look at your options:
- Leave your Christmas tree outside the back door
We thought we’d get this one out of the way first, because we know it’s likely to happen to many of us. No judgement. - Plant your Christmas tree in your garden
Admittedly this option isn’t open to all of our readers. But if your garden is big enough and the conditions are right then replanting your Christmas tree is a great idea. It’s even possible to replant a Christmas tree that has no roots. - Chuck your unwanted tree in a ditch or field somewhere
No. Just no. This is fly tipping and fly tipping ruins Suffolk. - Take your unwanted Christmas tree to the tip
This is a good solution to the prickly question of how to dispose of your Christmas tree in Suffolk. If you have a vehicle large enough then you can drive to your local recycling centre and dispose of safely and correctly. The only downside here is that carrying Christmas trees around is horrible. Pushing your tree into, and then pulling it out of your car is going to messy. You could end having to spend a serious amount of time hoovering up pine needles. We have a better idea. - Let the council get dispose of your Christmas tree for you!
Not a lot of people in Suffolk know this, but your local council is perfectly happy to help you dispose of your Christmas tree.
Disposing of your Christmas tree, which Suffolk councils will do what.
The rules for Christmas tree disposal are different depending on which part of Suffolk you live in, so here’s our handy guide to disposing of your Christmas tree in Suffolk.
Christmas trees – the brown bin rules
Some councils set up Christmas tree collection points but for this guide we are focussing on the rules surrounding getting rid of your Christmas tree via your brown wheelie bin.
Christmas Tree Disposal in Suffolk
| Your local council | Rules and advice |
|---|---|
| Baberg | Real (not fake!) Christmas trees can be left next to your brown wheelie bin for any scheduled brown bin collection in January. Brown bin collections start on 7th January. |
| Forest Heath | If you are a subscriber to the Forest Heath brown bin service then you can place your tree inside your brown bin. Make sure you tree is placed inside your brown bin in such a way that the lid can still close. Cut your tree into smaller pieces if needs be. |
| Ipswich | Put your unwanted Christmas tree inside your brown bin. It is important that if you put your Christmas tree inside your brown bin that the lid to your bin can still close fully. Cut your tree up if you need to. If your tree is too big for your brown wheelie bin or is too large to be cut up then you can leave your Christmas tree beside your brown bin on collection day. |
| Mid Suffolk | You can leave your Christmas tree beside your brown bin, on any collection day throughout January. |
| St Edmundsbury Borough Council | If you are a part of the brown bin collection scheme you can place your Christmas tree inside your brown bin. If the lid won't close then you will need to cut your tree into smaller pieces. |
| Suffolk Coastal | Place your Christmas tree inside your brown bin for collection on any scheduled collection day. The lid of your brown bin must be able to close full. Do not place any part of your Christmas tree into your brown bin if it has a diameter of more than 4cm (1.5 inches). |
| Waveny | If you are a subscriber to the green bin recycling service then you can place your Christmas tree inside your green bin for collection on any scheduled green bin collection days. The lid of your green bin must be able to close. Don't place any stems or branches in your green bin if they have a diameter larger than 4cm (1.5 inches). |
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