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AIBU?

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Original poster

To hate seeing half-dead Christmas trees dumped outside

89 replies

MostHighlyFlavoredGravy · 05/01/2025 09:38

Inspired by another thread about xmas lights, one of the most depressing sights of the year IMO is when people leave their real xmas trees dumped in front of their houses in early January.

I get that they are (mostly) awaiting a booked collection from a charity etc, so I'm not suggesting that those people are doing anything wrong or should do anything different, but it always looks a bit sad, especially before 5 Jan. AIBU?

OP posts:
YouveGotAFastCar · 05/01/2025 10:28

TotallyTwisted · 05/01/2025 10:08

YANBU. Even worse when you see a tree that still looks fine dumped outside on Boxing Day like I did! Sad

I’d presume they have a reason. I’ve got a friend who takes the decorations down on Christmas Day evening as her daughter was born on Boxing Day, and prefers them to be down. We don’t put ours up until after my sons birthday on the 22nd.

Although I do wonder why people with back gardens don’t put them out there until collection date; we always have.

DiscoBeat · 05/01/2025 10:23

I get it, we had the loveliest tree this year, 9ft tall and a beautiful shape. We burn ours afterwards so it was especially sad really!

KezzaMucklowe · 05/01/2025 10:23

I get it too, its such a harsh change from the twinkly lights and decorations of christmas.
I get that they're most likely being collected to make wood chips etc and it's all part of the circle of life and all that but it still feels a bit depressing.
I've just booked tickets to a concert in May to cheer myself up.

Mademetoxic · 05/01/2025 10:21

Sadly another example of the 'throwaway society'

My council organises Christmas tree collection points dotted around the borough.
But still some lazy person dumps them anywhere.

Mademetoxic · 05/01/2025 10:19

SometimesCalmPerson · 05/01/2025 10:04

I feel so sad for the poor tree that was a living, growing thing that I think we might have to go for artificial from now on. I feel like a murderer.

I felt like that too but don’t want a fake one, so bought a potted tree and it’s just done its third Christmas.

... And for many more years to continue!

JMSA · 05/01/2025 10:16

I always find that a bit sad too.

I have an artificial tree - a Balsam Hill - and it's still going strong 10 years later.

dothedanceofjoy · 05/01/2025 10:11

Yep I feel this way too. Used to work at a garden centre and there were heaps of them outside in a sad pile in January 😭

We have always had fake. Used the same £9 tree for about 15 years, then got an upgrade, but still kept the faithful cheapy for a second room.

Original poster
MostHighlyFlavoredGravy · 05/01/2025 10:10

Glad to see at least some people agree with me! This is not an anti-real trees thread, just saying it looks sad walking down the road seeing them all outside. For further context, my street is mostly small Victorian terraces.

OP posts:
TotallyTwisted · 05/01/2025 10:08

YANBU. Even worse when you see a tree that still looks fine dumped outside on Boxing Day like I did! Sad

SometimesCalmPerson · 05/01/2025 10:04

I feel so sad for the poor tree that was a living, growing thing that I think we might have to go for artificial from now on. I feel like a murderer.

I felt like that too but don’t want a fake one, so bought a potted tree and it’s just done its third Christmas.

ObelixtheGaul · 05/01/2025 09:57

I get it, OP. I keep giving our tree sad looks, as it will be denuded of its finery today, but it will not go out the front, it will be in the back garden until we chop it up ready for the garden waste collection. I feel so sad for the poor tree that was a living, growing thing that I think we might have to go for artificial from now on. I feel like a murderer.

Needmorelego · 05/01/2025 09:50

Where I live people seem to assume the council will collect them (they don't) so the trees frequently sit there until February (or even longer).

Original poster
MostHighlyFlavoredGravy · 05/01/2025 09:47

Liddlemoreaction · 05/01/2025 09:40

er, no? They’re going to be turned into wood chips and mulch and put back into the land. Think of it that way.

Oh I know that - it's just a stark contrast from all the pretty decorated trees last week.

What is really depressing is going to the tip and seeing all the artificial trees that people chuck out.

OP posts:
Liddlemoreaction · 05/01/2025 09:40

er, no? They’re going to be turned into wood chips and mulch and put back into the land. Think of it that way.

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