No returnable Christmas trees this holiday season

Hungarian environmental organizations have decided not to offer returnable Christmas trees this year, because they are unprofitable, reports rtlklub.hu. In the past seven years, customers were offered returnable trees in pots for sale. Once the holiday season was over, the trees could be taken back which were then replanted in the spring.

"This is a great burden financially, and it's not worth doing," said Tamás Nagy, the vice-president of the Waste Reduction Alliance (Hulladék Munkaszövetség; HuMuSz), one of the environmental organizations that participated in the program in the past.

Besides financial concerns, environmental considerations were also against continuing the service. Many foreign pine tree types were thus brought into Hungary, and the trees were not always skillfully replanted in spring time.

Non-returnable Christmas trees will start appearing at markets across the country this weekend, and will cost Ft 4,000 to Ft 5,000 per meter (€15 to 20).

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