Which is greener: a fresh-cut holiday tree or an artificial one that can be reused year after year?

Eco-experts say thumbs-down to non-biodegradable faux trees, which are made almost exclusively of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC production creates dioxins and other toxic contaminants. PVC is also stabilized by lead, hence the warnings you might find against inhaling dust from your tree's packaging. And don't forget transportation fuel: About 85% of artificial trees are manufactured in China.

Live trees spend many seasons growing on untilled land, sequestering carbon in the process. Trees also help stabilize the ground against erosion and provide habitat for wildlife. And one acre of trees produces enough oxygen for 18 people to breathe every day.

At season's end, live trees can be recycled. Trees may be chipped for mulch, used to stabilize shorelines or even used to create habitat for fish. In Seattle, trees are accepted with other yard waste for composting--just make sure the tree is less than six feet long with a trunk no more than four inches in diameter. 

Unfortunately, pesticides are still widely used to keep trees attractive and marketable. The growers of the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association take sustainable actions on their farms, such as bordering their plots with grass to keep pesticides from running off into waterways. Still, trees release some carbon into the atmosphere when they are cut down.

Want an even greener option? Don't chop at all. Instead, decorate a live, potted tree and plant it in your yard to ring in the New Year. No yard of your own? One Earth One Design will deliver a live tree to your home, then pick it up and plant it at the end of the season.

To learn more about tree recycling and composting in King County, click here. For tips on choosing, planting and caring for live trees, call the Natural Lawn and Garden Hotline.