Like many products, the issue for artificial trees is that, until now, there has been no easy or proven way to recycle them. Artificial trees without lights attached are often considered general waste at end-of-life and trees with lights attached are electronic waste, both are already a significant environmental challenge for consumers, municipalities, and for the planet.
Over two-thirds (68%) of respondents in the Republic of Ireland plan to celebrate with an artificial Christmas tree this year, and a third (33%) of these trees are already five to ten years old. When asked about national recycling schemes, 69% of all Irish people agree that there should be one for artificial trees in their country.
This Christmas season, Dublin has become the first city in the world to introduce a dedicated recycling scheme for artificial Christmas trees. The pilot, known as Project reTREE, is being delivered with a unique collaboration between Balsam Hill, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and South Dublin County Council, WEEE Ireland, Thorntons Recycling, Panda, and many local staff at municipal bring centres for waste or recycling.