9 Christmas Tree Recycling Tips That Help the Environment Add to the ranks of Christmas tree recyclers by following these nine tips and tricks. 1. Cut off the branches of your tree, and place them around your garden plants for protection. 2. When your tree starts to get brittle, it can be processed in a wood chipper, and you can use the mulch in your garden. 3. In many cities, you can simply set your Christmas tree out as part of your curbside recycling program. 4. Seek out a non-profit, because some communities allow organizations to raise money by picking up trees. 5. Submerged trees become a fish feeding refuge, so try to find a body of water that needs fish habitat. 6. Burn your tree outdoors if your city allows it. 7. If all else fails, use the tree for arts and crafts. 8. You can usually find Christmas trees with the root ball still attached that you can plant in your yard after the holidays. 9. Donate your old artificial tree to a resale or second-hand shop instead of throwing it away.