With the holidays over, your Christmas tree may no longer serve a purpose in your living room, but it could serve a greater purpose in nature.

At the Carbon County Environmental Education Center in Summit Hill, there is a Christmas tree drop-off program for unwanted trees. The center started the program 30 years ago.

“A big reason we do this is to keep trees out of landfills,” chief naturalist of CCEEC Susan Gallagher said. “We have enough solid waste, and we like to prevent as much as we can. Christmas trees do not decompose properly in a landfill.”

CCEEC received a grant by the Leadership Carbon Class of 2007, which allowed the center to expand the program by adding more signs, making mulch from the trees and creating recyclable ornaments to give to the local tree farms.

“Carbon County is a big Christmas tree territory, and we’re grateful for the oxygen. When more people drop off the trees and we’re able to use them and put them back into the environment, we are completing the loop,” Gallagher said.

With the trees, members of CCEEC create wildlife habitats for small animals and birds and make mulch in the spring time. Then, the mulch is used throughout the trails of the center, but people may also come and take some for their property as well.

Christmas trees can be dropped off during the center’s weekday hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Trees should not have any leftover ornaments, tinsel or disposal bags on them.

If people are unable to drop off their trees at the center, Gallagher recommends creating their own wildlife habitat.

“Depending on the size of your yard, place your tree outside. Maybe near a bird feeder, and you’ll help create a home for birds in the winter,” she said.

For more information contact the CCEEC at 570-645-8597.