Target: Michael Regan, Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency
Goal: Make better use of real Christmas trees as sustainable contributors to environmental wellness.
An astounding 30 million natural Christmas trees are sold in the United States every year. The trees, decked out with colorful ornaments and lights, help bring holiday cheer. But once the holidays are over, many of these trees end up in the trash heap when instead they could be experiencing a new life.
Recycled Christmas trees can bring many benefits. Some trees are transformed into mulch so they can help sustain plants and feed ecosystems. Discarded trees set up in the wild can also act as temporary habitats for a host of wildlife. And many trees donated to Christmas tree recycling programs are used by cities and organizations for multiple purposes, from fish and goat feeders to coastal erosion barriers. One man even found an inventive purpose for over 800 trees and set a world record in the process. He crafted a maze made from the trees that happened to also be the planet’s largest spectacle of lighted holiday trees.
Too many Americans remain unaware of these recycling alternatives, and some residents lack the regional resources to implement such initiatives. Sign the petition below to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to incorporate Christmas tree recycling into its National Recycling Strategy.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Administrator Regan,
“EPA’s National Recycling Strategy provides a roadmap to address system challenges and pave the way for the future of recycling.” Since making this announcement in 2021, recycling initiatives in America have received a boost. During the holiday season, however, one key area remains to be addressed: Christmas tree recycling.
The tens of millions of natural Christmas trees sold in America every year are ripe for repurposing and ecologically friendly benefits: natural fertilizers, food and habitat for wildlife, and much more. Yet the opportunities to reap these benefits vary greatly from state to state, and even from town to town.
Please help fill in these gaps and give these trees new purpose by investing in a nationwide holiday tree recycling initiative.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Ypsilon
Great idea. Now employ it! Government and citizens alike!