Budapest Collects and Recycles Discarded Christmas Trees
Budapest Public Utility Company Collects and Recycles Hundreds of Thousands of Christmas Trees
The Budapest Public Utility Company (BKM) is taking measures to ensure that hundreds of thousands of Christmas trees are collected and recycled in an environmentally friendly way after the holidays. According to the FKF Waste Management Division, 500-600 thousand fir trees are dumped on the streets of the capital every year, posing a serious logistical challenge.
To address this issue, the BKM has set up more than 250 designated collection points where residents can dispose of their Christmas trees. Alternatively, trees can be placed in a clearly visible spot next to household waste bins. The FKF is urging people in Budapest not to dispose of trees in public areas in a way that endangers pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle traffic or the overall cleanliness and safety of the capital.
Following the Epiphany on January 6th, an average of 12 ‘pinewood trucks’, specialized waste collection vehicles, will transport the Christmas trees from the designated collection points every day. The trees will be collected from residential properties by garbage trucks, with separate vehicles assisting as needed.
Once collected, the Christmas trees will be chopped and mixed with municipal waste, making them suitable for environmentally sound thermal incineration under controlled industrial conditions. This process will provide tens of thousands of households in Budapest with environmentally friendly district heating and electricity through high-efficiency cogeneration.
The initiative aligns with efforts to promote sustainable waste management practices and reduce the environmental impact of discarded Christmas trees. The city of Budapest is committed to ensuring that the post-holiday period does not result in unnecessary waste and environmental harm.
Via MTI, Featured image: Facebook/FKF
