With Christmas almost over, here’s how to get rid of your tree in Spain the right way.
The festive season doesn’t properly end in Spain until January 6th, Three Kings’ Day (Día de los Reyes Magos). From then on, it’s back to normal: the kids go back to school, decorations come down, and the tree needs to be recycled or gotten rid of.
For many of us foreigners abroad, however, the new year means the end of Christmas spirit. Whether or not you take your tree down after January 6th or are already thinking about it, there’s a proper way to get rid of your Christmas tree in Spain.
If you had an artificial tree then the answer to this question is easy: stuff it back in its box and put it back in the cupboard.
If, however, you had a real tree this year, then you have several options for disposal. Of course, if you bought a living tree then now is the time to plant it outside.
But once you’ve gone through the process of taking down your Christmas tree, recycling it depends on the type of tree you have.
Natural and synthetic trees require different methods due to their materials and composition.
Natural trees
Natural trees, being made of organic materials, offer several possibilities for recycling. A popular option is composting. By turning the tree into compost, you can enrich your garden soil or even donate it to community projects that benefit from natural fertiliser.
To do this, it is important to remove all decorations and cut the tree into smaller pieces to facilitate decomposition.
Another alternative is to take the tree to a recycling centre, where it can be turned into mulch or wood chips.
Others chop them into pieces and use as firewood.
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Christmas tree collection points
However, the easiest way to get rid of your tree might be letting the council take it off your hands.
Many municipalities in Spain offer specific collection services for Christmas trees, which makes recycling easier and prevents them from ending up in landfills. These collection points are usually available for a limited period, so it is important to find out in advance.
In order to check, you’ll need to look up information on your local town hall or council website. Each area will be different.
You can find information about Barcelona here, for example.
In Madrid, in previous years the council organised Christmas tree collection until 31 January at the municipal areas in El Retiro and Casa de Campo, where the trees are replanted in city parks.
In Barcelona, on the other hand, collection is usually available until 17 January in 10 districts across the city.
