The Daily Bulletin Archive

Nothing says "Christmas" like the smell of pine in your living room on a winter morning! But is that smell really "green" or is it bad for the planet? If you want a tree for the holiday, the experts at Grist and TreeHugger say it's actually better to buy a cut real Christmas tree than an artificial tree. Fake trees are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Producing this type of plastic creates a lot of pollution, and it's difficult to recycle. Plus, lead has been found in PVC. According to a report in the Journal of Environmental Health, lead levels are higher in older artificial trees. Farmed Christmas trees are ultimately a renewable resource. Growing trees absorb carbon dioxide, and after the holidays, the trees can be recycled into mulch. Check Earth 911 to see where to take your dead tree after the holidays. A live tree is often promoted as the ultimate eco-friendly holiday option, but it's not that simple. If the ground is frozen outside, you can't do it. Also, you can only keep a live tree indoors for a few days. So, the most practical solution for earth-friendly folks who celebrate Christmas is to look for a locally grown tree. Source: Yahoo! Green