Each year, 25 to 30 million live Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. And the debate continues whether it’s more sustainable to buy a live tree or an artificial tree. Artificial trees can be used year after year, while a live tree is cut down, can only be used once, and then discarded. So why would anyone want to cut down more trees? Most live Christmas trees are grown on farms, like crops, for the specific purpose of being harvested as Christmas trees. Every time a Christmas tree is purchased, a new one is replanted on the farm. Very few Christmas trees are removed from federal forests, and those that are, are strictly regulated by the U.S. Forest Service. Live trees are more sustainable because they are biodegradable, unlike plastic trees which fill landfills and cause more harm than good to the environment. Plus, Christmas tree farms provide many of the same benefits as community trees and forests — cleaning the air and water, removing carbon, stabilizing soil, and more. One of the other benefits of a live Christmas tree is the different ways you can recycle it at the end of the season. Many communities offer free Christmas … Continue reading 8 Sustainable Ways to Recycle your Christmas Tree