It is exciting buying a Christmas tree because it feels like festive season has truly started and the build-up to the big day can begin. But what happens to it once the fun is all over, and it is standing in the corner of a room looking sad and bare?

The simple answer is: It can be taken away to be composted. Once again this year the council is providing a doorstep collection of Christmas trees.

On the same day of the week as your usual rubbish or recycling collections, the council will collect old Christmas trees for composting – between Wednesday, 28 December and Friday, 27 January.

Make sure you check the back page of Around Ealing magazine for any changes to your usual collection day over Christmas and the new year – or visit the council’s website.

Tree trunks must not exceed 20cm in diameter or 6ft in height (taller trees can be cut in two). And remember to remove all decorations.

Alternatively, real Christmas trees can be taken to one of the council’s parks and open spaces listed below, any time in January – and up until 12 February, to include those trees left up longer:

• Acton Green Common
• Acton Park
• Berkeley Fields (Berkeley Avenue)
• Churchfields, Hanwell (car park)
• Cleveland Park
• Ealing Central Sports Ground (Horsenden Lane South)
• Ealing Common (Junction of Grange Road and The Common)
• Elthorne Park (Boston Road)
• Islip Manor Park (Eastcote Lane car park)
• North Acton playing fields
• Perivale Park (Cowgate Road)
• Pitshanger Park
• Ravenor Park (Oldfield Lane South and Ruislip Road)
• Rectory Park (Parkfield Drive)
• Southall Park (Green Drive)
• Southfields Park
• Spikes Bridge Park (West Avenue)
• Springfield Gardens (Rosemont Road)
• Walpole Park (Lammas Park Gardens)

You can also, of course, take them to the borough’s two re-use and recycling centres in Stirling Road, Acton (W3 8DJ) or Greenford Road (UB6 9AP).

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, said: “We know that buying a real Christmas tree from a sustainable source is best for the environment.
I’m delighted that, for the sixth year running, we are offering a free doorstep collection of real Christmas trees to ensure that, once the festivities are over, your tree can be composted and help grow the next generation of trees or grow food. Alternatively, if your tree still has its roots, you might want to plant it in the garden to reuse next year.”