The Dos and Don’ts of Flocked Christmas Tree Disposal
Every year, holiday fires injure roughly 2,000 to 2,500 people. But face it, there are basic, surefire steps you can follow to take down and dispose of your flocked Christmas trees safely.
The holidays are over, and now it’s time to get working. Your flocked trees shouldn’t last in your room till forever–that would only mean hazard. A few weeks after Christmas and you should be thinking of bringing them all down.
How to Disassemble Your Flocked Christmas Tree
Follow the points below to learn the tricks:
- A general rule is to get rid of your tree once it drops needles.
- Remove all lights, tinsels, decorations, and ornaments. Also ensure to take down the stands too.
- Keep the flocked tree out of your house and don’t store in a garage. It’s just a matter of minutes before a dry flocked Christmas tree ignites and starts burning out of control.
- Firs and pines contain excessive sap and turpentine oils, and they are extremely flammable. So never burn your flocked Christmas tree near a fireplace or in a wood-burning stove.
The creosote buildup can also cause a fire in your chimney.
- You should cut up flocked Christmas trees and dispose of them with your regular garbage.
Several cities offer free tree drop-off locations, and others come to pick them up. Trees are usually picked up a couple of weeks after Christmas.
In some cities, trees must be cut into four foot lengths, so your tree may have to be cut in half. Whether and how the city picks up trees in your area can be verified by contacting your city.