January 19, 2024
Stumped about what to do with your Christmas tree? Dunmore Reviva has the solution
Region Illawarra
Now Christmas is over, spare a thought for the humble trees that were the centre of attention in December. Just a couple of weeks later thousands of them have made their way to landfill, along with the decorations that adorned them through the festive season.
"At Christmastime we create displays and we encourage people to put up an old tree on the verandah as well as inside the house, give it another life.” Deputy general manager of Resource Recovery Australia, Ally Glendenning
Deputy general manager of Resource Recovery Australia, Ally Glendenning, says there are a couple of reasons behind the annual influx of Christmas trees to the region’s tips.
“One is a problem in the market,” she said.
“There are so many poor-quality trees you can buy for $20-$30; the feet break, and they end up at the tip.
“The other is trends, so pink trees or white trees, that age really quickly.”
Most commercial Christmas trees are made almost entirely of plastic, so they don’t break down, and add to landfill, as well as shedding microplastics into the environment.
Luckily for the Illawarra, and the planet, the Reviva store at Dunmore gives dumped trees a new lease on life.
The store sells Christmas decorations, including trees, year-round.
“Through the year our Christmas section grows and grows, then around the middle of the year we sell some for Christmas in July,” Ally said.
“By October trees start walking out the door and by Christmas Eve we have no decorations left in any of our shops.”
The creativity of Reviva staff is a big part of the reason the stores are so effective at recycling unloved Christmas trees.
