23 December 2024
As the holiday season draws near, Severn Trent Green Power is once again championing sustainability by recycling Christmas trees from across Oxfordshire.
This year, Green Power – based near Enstone in Oxfordshire - is dedicated to giving every festive fir a new lease on life, transforming them into nutrient-rich compost that will benefit local farmland.
As part of the Christmas message this year, Green Power has shared a short video on social media, showing what happens to the trees after the holidays.
Local council collection teams across Oxfordshire will be gathering trees and transporting them to one of Green Power’s three composting sites in the county.
Green Power teams will be hard at work after the holidays, shredding the trees and converting them into valuable compost, which could even help grow the next generation of pines for next year!
Debra Barnacle, Client Liaison Manager at Green Power, said: “Everybody wants to make Christmas memorable, and a part of that can be by having a real Christmas tree adorning your home. But there’s no reason why, once the festivities are over, your tree should go to waste. Sending your tree to be composted is a sustainable and convenient way for Christmas trees to be put to use long after the last of the tinsel and baubles have been removed. Simply check your local arrangements and your tree could soon be composted down and used to help grow new trees for next year!”
Oxfordshire residents with real trees to recycle can find out what to do using the table below. All household waste recycling centres across the county will be accepting trees for recycling.
Steve Burdis, Technical Lead for Waste Contracts at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Recycling your tree is easy and the process helps with soil regeneration. There are different options available, these include checking if your district or city council offers a kerbside collection service or a local drop-off point, or bringing it to your nearest recycling centre. You might also consider replanting it for next Christmas or composting it at home.
“For more ways to reduce your waste even further this Christmas, information is available on the Climate Action Oxfordshire website.”
Three tips for recycling your Christmas tree this year:
- Remove all decorations, especially tinsel, before recycling your tree.
- If the tree is tall, cut it into three or four smaller pieces for easier handling.
- If your tree is potted with roots, consider planting it in your garden to enjoy next Christmas.
Christmas tree collections arrangements for Oxfordshire
District |
Christmas tree kerbside collection |
Christmas tree drop off locations |
Website(s) |
Household Waste Recycling Centres |
Cherwell |
Kerbside on green/brown bin day (no subscription needed) |
No |
Christmas - changes to collections | Christmas collection dates | Cherwell District Council |
Yes |
ODS (Oxford City) |
Kerbside on green/brown bin day (no subscription needed) |
Locations across Oxford e.g. parks, open after Christmas |
Christmas tree recycling | Recycling at Christmas | Oxford City Council |
Yes |
South Oxon and Vale of White Horse |
Only for paid for garden waste collections |
Garden centres and parishes/towns |
South Christmas Tree collections - South Oxfordshire District Council (southoxon.gov.uk) Vale Christmas tree collections - Vale of White Horse District Council (whitehorsedc.gov.uk) |
Yes |
West Oxon |
Kerbside collection on the scheduled garden waste collection day between Tues 7 and Mon 20 January inclusive. Pick up for all households – regardless whether they subscribe |
No |
https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/check-your-collection-day/ |
Yes |
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
Stuart Kidman
Communications Manager
07519 325583 / stuart.kidman@stgreenpower.co.uk
Scarlett Leung
Communications Manager
07541 688303 / scarlett.leung@stgreenpower.co.uk