Missouri Upcycles Used Christmas Trees Into Fish Habitats

There are numerous ways to get rid of Christmas trees the right way after the holiday season. Some states, like Missouri, collect them and upcycle them into fish habitats, while others convert them into mulch for use in gardens.

Donations of trees are being accepted by the Missouri Department of Conservation from all over the area. But these trees won't be turned into mulch. In the vicinity of St. Louis, they will be thrown into one of 14 lakes.

The trees improve the habitat and fishing opportunities by assisting fish in finding cover.

Benefiting Fish and Anglers

According to John Schulte, a biologist with MDC Fisheries Management, fish require shelter to rest, eat, and hunt, just like people do. Christmas trees are a great building material for creating this crucial habitat in the region's artificial lakes. This will support the availability of good fishing opportunities for anglers in the present and the future.

Largemouth bass, redear sunfish, bluegill, and crappie are a few examples of the new generation of fish that will benefit from the ability of young fish to hide from larger fish.

The work to plant the trees in the lakes will be done by park employees and biologists from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The trees are anchored to concrete blocks and lowered 4-7 feet under water. Before they completely sank, the tree tops were visible for five to six weeks.

Interested donors of trees are advised to remove the decorations before bringing them to the locations listed by KSDK 5 On Your Side.

Mulching Option

The National Christmas Tree Association estimates that about 30 million Christmas trees are sold each year, but not every fir tree finds its way into a warm house. Some never leave the farm or the parking lot, but they all usually end up there.

The most common use for leftover Christmas trees is being turned into mulch, according to Richard Bates, a horticulture professor at Pennsylvania State University who teaches a course on managing Christmas trees.

According to Bates, there are literally thousands of well-established programs run typically by local governments or community-based organizations that will collect, chip, and compost them-and occasionally even resell that final product.

Drop-Off Sites, Curbside Pick-up

According to Jill Sidebottom, a representative for the National Christmas Tree Association, the majority of counties and cities offer curbside pick-up or offer locations for dropping off Christmas trees.

According to Ed Baskin, a program manager, the city of San Diego receives close to 70,000 Christmas trees from its citizens through its recycling program.

According to Baskin, trees typically yield high-quality wood chips and mulch. The city of San Diego uses mulch and compost made from the city's trees in its parks and gives the product to locals at no cost.

Some people choose to keep their trees for a longer period, which is acceptable as long as they water the tree regularly throughout its entire life cycle to keep it fresh and green. The house has a dried-out tree that could catch fire, and in addition, according to Baskin, dry trees are more challenging to mulch, USA TODAY reports.