For residents in Luxembourg City, the removal of Christmas trees is carried out by the rubbish collection service from January 2020.
If your Christmas tree is painted, sprayed or has decorations, leave it outside your home, where it will be disposed of with the usual rubbish collection.
For "clean" Christmas trees, if they are left outside, they will be collected and sent to compost at the same time as your usual rubbish collection.
In both cases it will suffice to place the tree on the pavement or on the property's borders before 6am on the day of rubbish collections (the calendar is available to view on dechets.vdl.lu).
Trees which are taller than two metres should be cut in half to make disposal easier.
Christmas trees can also be dropped off at the recycling centre on Route d'Arlon. Opening hours are between 7am and 7.30pm during the week and 8.30am to 6pm on Saturdays.
If you live outside of the capital, Christmas trees can be disposed of during the usual rubbish collection. Please check local calendars for collections before leaving the tree outside.
If your tree still has its roots, why not try planting it? For successful replanting, the tree should not have suffered too much from indoor heating. Ideally Christmas trees should not be placed near radiators or fireplaces and should be watered regularly. Before planting, leave the tree in a non-heated room to stabilise the soil and continue oxygenation. When planting, choose a day without frost and excessive rain.
If the tree is dead, consider using it as compost or mulch in your own garden. Crushed or cut into chips, it will prevent water evaporation and protect plants from the cold. Thanks to its anti-germination properties, it also constitutes an ideal natural barrier against the proliferation of weeds.
Some garden centres will take back any Christmas trees they sold after the holidays are over. Several stores will offer vouchers to customers who bring back their trees, so long as they have the receipt.
If you're a fan of the characteristic pine smell, why not turn some of the needles into pot-pourri?
As a warning for those disposing of their own tree - it is not recommended to burn it in a stove because it could damage your installation. However, if you want to use it for your fireplace, cut it and let it dry until the following year.
Finally, if you have opted for an artificial tree, remember to store it well and reuse it next year. The worst thing to do is throw it away. According to ConsoGlobe, you have to keep your artificial tree for twenty years to limit its carbon footprint.
