Christmas 2014 is history, but you still have that 8-foot Douglas fir or a 6-foot Norway spruce right in the middle of your living room. What do you do with it?

You’re not alone. Every year, between 25 and 30 million natural Christmas trees are sold in the United States, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

One environmentally friendly option is to recycle through the more than 4,000 Christmas tree recycling programs established throughout the country. Others find creative ways to reuse their trees and other natural holiday decorations.

Here are some locations around the state where you can bring your tree for recycling.  If your community  is not listed here, call your local City Hall or public works department to find out if they offer tree recycling.

Auburn/Opelika

• On Saturday, Dec. 27, the Keep Opelika Beautiful and Opelika Tree Commission will host a Christmas tree recycling event at the Opelika Chamber of Commerce parking lot from 8 a.m. to noon. Tree seedlings will be given in exchange for the tree.

Baldwin County

• Decoration-free trees can be brought to any of the following locations:
  • Bay Minette Transfer Station: 4291 Nicholasville Rd, Bay Minette, AL 36507
  • Spanish Fort Volunteer Fire Dept: 7580 Spanish Ford Blvd., Spanish Fort, AL 36527
  • MacBride Landfill: 14200 County Road 64, Loxley, AL 36551
  • Baldwin County Central Annex: 22251 Palmer St., Robertsdale, AL 36567
  • Fairhope Satellite Courthouse: 1100 Fairhope Ave., Fairhope, AL 36532
  • Magnolia Landfill: 15140 County Road 49, Summerdale, AL 36580
  • Foley Satellite Courthouse: 201 E. Section Ave., Foley, AL 36535
  • Perdido Beach Volunteer Fire Dept: 8450 Escambia Ave., Perdido Beach, AL 36530

Birmingham

• Christmas trees will be picked up curbside throughout the city and chipped as part of the yard debris removal service on regularly scheduled pickup days.

Homewood

• Through Jan. 10, 2015, natural, decoration-free Christmas trees can be brought to the Community Garden (top of Evergreen by the tennis courts). The trees will be recycled and the mulch will be used in the community garden and outdoor classroom.

Hoover

• Christmas trees are picked up curbside and are chipped by the city as part of their normal landscaping and yard debris removal service on regularly scheduled pickup days.

Huntsville

• Natural Christmas trees can be dropped off at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens mulch pile (east of the main entrance), Dec. 26 – Jan. 15.  The trees will be recycled and the mulch will added to the city’s mulch pile, which is free for citizens of Huntsville to use in their own landscaping.

Mountain Brook

• The Mountain Brook Tree Commission and the Birmingham Zoo are encouraging residents to drop off natural Christmas trees free of decorations at the zoo’s picnic area next to the parking lot during normal business hours, Dec.  26 – Jan.12. The trees will be turned into mulch for use at the zoo.

Prattville 

• Natural Christmas trees can be dropped at the Recycling Center on  Ridgewood Road (across from Mac Gray Park), Dec. 26 – Jan. 10, 8am-5pm. All trees must be free of lights, ornaments, tinsel, and other decorations. The trees will be mulched and used in landscaping throughout Prattville.

Tuscaloosa

• From Dec. 26 through Jan. 11,  natural Christmas trees, natural garland, and wreaths free of decorations and ornaments can be dropped off at the former Bruno’s parking lot just off McFarland Boulevard.

Vestavia

• Decoration-free, natural Christmas trees can be dropped off at Scout Square (The Christmas Tree Lot) right off Highway 31 in Vestavia. Donated trees are used as fish habitats in lakes.

Additional creative recycling ideas

Here are some other ideas from the Alabama Environmental Council to creatively recycle or reuse your tree and other natural decorations:

• The most obvious form of recycling your old Christmas tree is to chip it up into mulch to use in your landscaping. Chippers can be rented from most hardware stores, but they do require special skills and often liability insurance to operate. Please do not consider this option if you have no or limited prior experience operating a wood chipper.
• Retired Christmas trees actually make great bird habitats in back yards. Secure the trunk of the tree about one foot down into the soil or use a tree stand and decorate the tree with bird seed, nuts, and old fruit. During the rest of the winter your retire Christmas tree will become a songbird’s paradise.
• Old wreaths also make an excellent bird house. Just hang your retired wreaths on trees and you’ll soon see that nesting birds have made them their new homes.
• If you happen to have a pond on your property or you have friends or family that do, old Christmas trees make excellent fish spawning habitats. Take some natural string or cord (such as hemp cord) and tie your Christmas tree securely to a large rock or brick. Then drop the tree into the water so it is completely submerged.