How Your Old Christmas Tree Can Heat Homes and Feed Animals
Millions of Christmas trees are thrown away every year once the holidays end. Yet these trees can still serve useful purposes—from heating homes to feeding animals. Many people don’t realise how much value a discarded Christmas tree can hold beyond the festive season.
After the decorations come down, a Christmas tree can be repurposed in several practical ways. Burning the wood in a fireplace or fire pit provides heat, with a single tree producing around 20 kilowatt-hours of energy. This is enough to replace roughly two litres of heating oil. If chipped, the same tree could generate electricity to power an LED string light for nearly a full year.
For those with gardens, the tree can offer shelter for small wildlife or protect plants from frost. The trunk alone can act as a climbing support for vines and other greenery. Meanwhile, untreated trees make excellent food for animals. Zoos like Vivarium in Darmstadt, Hellabrunn in Munich, Dresdner Zoo, and Bergzoo Halle all accept old Christmas trees to feed and enrich the lives of their animals. Many local councils also run collection services to gather discarded trees. This helps ensure they are recycled or reused rather than ending up in landfill.
Instead of throwing out a Christmas tree, it can be turned into energy, animal feed, or garden support. A single tree can replace heating oil, power lights, or provide meals for zoo animals. With so many options available, repurposing old trees is both simple and beneficial.
