Christmas tree dumped inside larger tree as dozens of illegally ditched Christmas trees cause headaches for Auckland Council

This is not where to put your old Christmas tree. Photo / Auckland Council

What do you do with your old Christmas tree? Don't dump it up a tree.

Auckland Council waste solutions' general manager Ian Stupple has urged those
who love to celebrate the festive season with a real Christmas tree to also make sure they dispose of it properly when the party's over.

The plea follows more than 30 illegally dumped Christmas trees, including one hoisted into the lower branches of a much larger tree.

"If you took the time to choose, buy and decorate a real Christmas tree then please take the time to dispose of it properly," Stupple said.

Illegal dumping costs Auckland ratepayers more than $1 million a year, he added.

The council did not collect Christmas trees, but options were available to dispose of them legally.

Private garden bag or bin collectors could be contacted to see if they accepted the trees, and some Christmas tree farms accepted them, free, to use as mulch or compost.

Christmas trees could also be taken to some transfer stations, for a fee.