Householders urged to recycle, not dump Christmas trees

The pair were present as the 29-foot Norwegian tree was shredded to turn it into compost. Part of the tree was then taken to BBC Television Centre to chip in the Blue Peter garden.

London deputy mayor Nicky Gavron and Blue Peter presenter Simon Thomas shred Trafalgar Square's Christmas tree

The recycling of the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree formed part of the ongoing Recycle for London campaign to encourage Londoners to recycle more of their waste. The deputy mayor wanted to highlight that Christmas trees, wrapping paper and cards can be recycled after festive period.

Ms Gavron said: “The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has been the greenest ever, using energy efficient light bulbs and being powered for a week by hydrogen fuel cell which has no emissions. We are now making it even greener by recycling it. It will be used as compost in one of London's major squares and in the Blue Peter garden.

“I hope the recycling of the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree will encourage Londoners to think about recycling their own trees and other rubbish left over from Christmas and New Year, like old cards and wrapping paper.”

The deputy mayor pointed out that six million Christmas trees and one billion Christmas cards are bought in the UK each year, and often end up in the bin. Ms Gavron said: “We need to make 2005 the greenest year yet for London.”

Christmas trees have already been spotted dumped in the Thames

Rivers

Elsewhere in London and the rest of the UK, councils are urging their residents to recycle their Christmas trees. And, the Environment Agency is asking householders not to dump Christmas trees in rivers. However, Christmas trees have already been found floating down the River Thames.

The Environment Agency said that every year it has to remove trees which have been irresponsibly dumped in rivers and streams, causing blockages.

Agency teams mount regular riverbank patrols to ensure rivers and streams flow as freely as possible and so are better able to cope with any extra winter rainfall. A dumped Christmas tree can pose a particular problem as debris is caught in its branches and quickly builds causing localised flooding, the Agency said.

Members of the public can report river blockages by calling the Environment Agency's 24-hour freephone number 0800 80 70 60.