The disposable cut Christmas tree of yesteryear is today a valuable addition as organic material used for mulch, compost and soil improvement. Gone are the days when trees were simply tossed to the curb where it became a heterogeneous mixture when combined with all the other Christmas discards destined for the landfill. These days, most municipalities will pick up your tree for free where it’s separated from landfill trash. Trees are collected for composting or shredded into mulch with infinite uses and benefits. Even if no such service is available in your area, there are locations around every town that will accept your tree for free. Or consider organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America who will, for a nominal fee, pick up your tree and take it to the appropriate location for recycling.
Similarly, consider obtaining some of this shredded mulch for your own garden and landscape. The price is right and at this time of year, you should have no trouble sourcing the material.
In the event any of those options are more than you want to deal with, a discarded tree left to decompose on its own can provide important shelter for birds and wildlife as it breaks down. Keep in mind for any tree being recycled, it should be free of that silver tinsel stuff. It’s made of plastic, which never fully biodegrades. Bad stuff for the environment.