Merton Council is calling on residents to think about the trees they buy this Christmas and, if possible, to buy a tree with roots.

Every year the council chips over 10,000 trees for compost. The alternative option of buying a Christmas tree with roots means people can plant their tree out in the garden once the festive season is over to enjoy all year round and then reuse it for next Christmas. If space is an issue, the council will be replanting some of the trees collected with roots within Merton to further enhance the local environment.

Merton Council cabinet member for environment and leisure services, Councillor David Simpson said: “Often, environmental sense makes financial sense too. Planting your Christmas tree out in the garden will mean you have a tree to admire all year round and, if you keep it clipped, a Christmas tree for the following year. Even if it’s not practical to plant a tree yourself, we will plant it for you in one of Merton’s parks for everyone to enjoy. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, so we can all use our buying power this year to make sure we do the right thing not only by our pockets but by the environment too.”

-ENDS-

Notes for editors

Christmas tree collections: residents can take their Christmas trees to either of the council’s reuse and recycling centres for composting where there is a container for green waste.
The council will be collecting trees between Wednesday 6 and Wednesday 20 January 2010. Residents should place their trees at the front of their property from 6am where it can be clearly seen from the road, but not on the pavement. For trees not collected by the 20 January, residents can call 020 8274 4902.