I could not have imagined writing another post about Christmas trees, but one reader’s comment prompted me to do some more research on what happens to our biological Christmas waste.
Germany’s homes put up about 23 million natural Christmas trees a year. Denmark is our biggest supplier by exporting eight million trees to German homes.
While a fake tree can be used year after year, causes no allergies, and leaves no mess behind, scientific research shows that a natural tree is five times better for the environment. While it takes 8-10 years to produce a fully grown tree, its growth releases Oxygen (O2) at the same time. The fake one only causes Ozone (O3) in its production.
I have just called our local community to find out what happens to our picked-up Christmas trees: In good old German fashion, they get recycled. After being chaffed, the trees turn into biological-waste compost. Again, this is environmental-friendly and nurturing our soil, hence the air, as well.
Germany, the land of trees – and rainy weather at times – seems to have an abundance of wood anyway. Our local residents here in Oberursel, Germany, have a chance to gather their own firewood in the nearby forest. Of course, being orderly Germany, one needs to obtain a license to do so. This Holzleseschein (wood gathering permission slip) can be gotten at the foresters office (Mr. Mathias Brand) in the forest cottage behind the former forest range office (Altkönigstrasse 174 in 61440 Oberursel – only Wednesdays between 4:00 and 5:00). The cost is € 18.– and the permission slip owner is entitled to gather firewood (one cubic meter) in a designated area from Mondays to Saturdays, between sunrise and sundown, for a duration of four weeks.
We have had a cold spell in Germany. If I had a fireplace, I would contemplate fetching my own firewood.
[…] Click here to find out what it’s all about. // … seen in Camp King waiting for annual the Christmas tree collection! Click here to find out what it's all about. […]