Across Quebec, blue-collar workers are preparing to carry out their first major green waste collection of the year: that of natural Christmas trees. After filling our living room with the smell of resin, illuminating our holiday evenings and bending under the decorations, our beautiful tree is now dry. How can we revalue it?
Published at 7:00 a.m.
There are several options for upgrading your natural Christmas tree. In several municipalities, citizens can transport it around certain outdoor skating rinks or around parks to form ephemeral forests.
In Montreal, the era of the ephemeral forest around the Biodôme is over, but that of Parc Jarry, in the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension, is back in 2025 as part of the 100e birthday. Citizens are invited to come and plant their tree until January 12, specifies the district.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE COALITION OF FRIENDS OF JARRY PARK
An ephemeral fir forest is a good way to revalorize a natural fir tree.
“We invite citizens to hang a poster on a branch, with a word or a wish in tribute to the people who frequent the park,” explains Audrey Villeneuve, communications manager at the City of Montreal.
The trees will be planted directly in the snow, in front of the ice rinks and near the swimming pool, in tree stands.
Audrey Villeneuve, communications manager at the City of Montreal
The district then plans to recover the fir trees to revalue the wood. Up to 200 fir trees have already formed an ephemeral forest in this area.
Tons of fir trees
At the turn of 2024, 290.62 tonnes of old 2023 New Year’s Eve trees were collected along the sidewalks on the island of Montreal. This is the equivalent of the weight of 14 Société de transport de Montréal buses. These fir trees were transformed into chips intended to supply energy to certain industries, explains Philippe Sabourin, spokesperson for the City of Montreal.
435 tonnes
In January 2020, a record 435 tonnes of fir trees were recovered in the metropolis. Every year, around 200 tonnes of spruce go to the chippers in all 19 districts.
“Citizens can also choose to leave them in a place on their land so that they become a winter refuge for birds and surrounding wildlife. Depending on the option chosen, it is important to strip them of all their decorations. Tinsel and decorations are the worst enemies of machinery at recycling centers. It breaks the equipment,” recalls the spokesperson.
Mr. Sabourin specifies that the collection varies according to the districts; it will spread over several days, in January.
-PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The collection of natural fir trees in Montreal will take place over several days in January.
At Recyc-Québec, we explain that there is no annual compilation of municipal collections of natural fir trees. Across the province, producers sell nearly two million fir trees each year, so many trees to transform into chips, mulch or compost, according to 2023 data from the Ministry of the Environment, Fight against climate change, Wildlife and Parks.
What about the artificial tree?
Recyc-Québec communications advisor, Daphné Champagne, recalls that the company published a guide for an “eco-responsible Christmas” at the end of November. Among the recommendations, we focus on the artificial tree.
The organization favors the natural tree, but failing that, it recommends keeping its tree derived from plastic for at least 20 years so that it is “ecological”.
Otherwise, Mme Champagne recommends finding a second life for artificial decorations.
“There are online resale sites, second-hand stores, reuse centers. In any case, you must remember that the artificial tree is not recyclable. Its lifespan must be extended as much as possible before placing it on the side of the road for the collection of large bulky items. »
Practical recipes
It is known that spruce trees are perfect for being transformed into essential oil. Instead of leaving them to dry in a corner, it is possible to macerate them to make cleaning products.1.
At the David Suzuki Foundation, spokesperson Laurence Bolduc explains that the organization has positioned itself in favor of natural fir trees, more particularly those in pots, which can be transplanted onto land.2. The foundation has drawn up guidelines that can be consulted online.
“We can also make potpourri, there are several recipes3. You just have to search a little,” she adds.
1. Check out a recipe for all-purpose tree cleaner
2. Check out the David Suzuki Foundation’s potted fir transplant guide
3. Visit the Racines boréales website to find fir-flavored recipes
