With the weather turning cold and Christmas just weeks away, many families in the region will be setting up holiday decorations this weekend.
Many will be faced with an age-old question – what's better for the environment: cutting down a live tree each year or using and re-using an artificial one?
The general consensus from environmental organizations is that, from an environmental and public health perspective, real trees remain the better option.
After the holiday, real trees can be recycled in yard debris containers, or chipped at home for use as compost or mulch.
Additionally, purchasing a real tree in Oregon supports local industry. Oregon's wholesale production of Christmas trees is valued at $100 million by the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree association, and Clackamas County is one of the state's greatest producers.
While artificial trees can be reused, their environmental benefits end there.
Artificial trees are made of PVC, and historically have used lead as a stabilizing agent for the plastic. Although lead regulations have been put in place in recent years, older trees pose a higher risk of the contaminant.
The trees require material extraction and production resources to create. Although it is technically recyclable, many municipal recycling programs do not process PVC, and often the plastic trees end up in landfills.
Most artificial trees sold in the U.S. are manufactured in China, shipped halfway around the world before they land in American homes.
In 2010, the American Christmas Tree Association published a life-cycle analysis of both real and artificial trees and their environmental impacts.
The study, authored by consulting firm PE Americas, concluded that buying an artificial tree and reusing it breaks even with buying a real tree each year in four to nine years, depending on various factors.
However, the analysis also stated that "the overall environmental impacts of both natural and artificial trees are extremely small when compared to other daily activities such as driving a car" and "the impact of the tree life cycle…is negligible within the context of the average American's lifestyle."
This suggests that people concerned about their environmental impact at Christmastime should consider other factors than choice of tree, such as how far they drive to pick up the tree or their usage of lights and disposable decorations (such as tinsel).
In the Portland region, an alternative to both types of trees exists. The Original Living Christmas Tree Company offers delivery and pickup of live potted trees to homes. After the holiday, trees are sold at a reduced price to planters and used in restoration or parks projects.
For those who choose to celebrate Christmas with a traditional tree, almost every city in the region offers tree disposal to all homes that have curbside yard debris service.
People whose homes aren't served by yard debris service can find a Christmas tree recycler through Metro's "Find a recycler" tool. Additionally, as a fundraiser, some organizations will take trees for a donation, or pick them up at residences.
Jami Warner, executive director of the American Christmas Tree Association, encourages families to celebrate the holiday as they see fit.
"Oregon produces most of the country's beautiful Christmas trees and we know how important the industry is to your state," Warner said in an email. "Consumers should feel good about choosing either kind of tree."