Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

CHRISTMAS

How to dispose of Christmas trees in Denmark

While the holiday season in Denmark can last for a long time, the same cannot be said for Christmas trees. After the festive season ends, there are several ways to dispose of your Christmas tree responsibly.

Published: 28 December 2023 12:16 CET
Christmas tree
When disposing of your Christmas tree, several options are available – from recycling and using it, or parts of it, in your garden to donating it to a zoo. Photo by: Sofie Mathiassen / Ritzau Scanpix

Regardless of the tree variety you’ve chosen for your holiday home decor, most Christmas trees begin to shed their needles around New Year’s. That is unless, you have opted for the plastic variety.  

In Denmark, several municipalities offer convenient options for tree collection and recycling, ensuring that your tree is put to good use even after the holidays.

Tree collection options

Some municipalities in Denmark provide residents with the option of collecting used Christmas trees directly from their addresses.

Notably, in the Copenhagen Municipality, Christmas trees are collected and then recycled into compost, contributing to a greener environment.

However, there are specific requirements you should be aware of to ensure a hassle-free collection.

When you submit your Christmas tree for collection, make sure it is free of any tree stands (feet) and decorations. These should be removed to simplify the recycling process.

Furthermore, in most places, whether you’re a resident or a waste manager in a block of flats, it is your responsibility to contact the municipality to arrange for Christmas tree collection.

Different rules for apartments and houses

If you live in an apartment, note that the collection process may differ from that in a house.

In Copenhagen Municipality, collected Christmas trees should not exceed 120 centimetres in height. If your tree is taller, it will need to be cut down to meet the collection requirements.

For those in apartment buildings in Copenhagen, you can request tree collection through Nem Affaldsservice. Be sure to check the deadline for collection requests, which may vary.

House residents in Copenhagen Municipality can look up the fixed collection date on Nemaffaldsservice.kk.dk.

Remember to place your Christmas tree on the pavement for pickup.

Other municipalities

The rules and procedures for Christmas tree disposal may vary depending on where you live.

In Ballerup Municipality, you can visit their website to access information regarding the schedule for Christmas tree collection.

Hvidovre Municipality’s website also provides comprehensive details about Christmas tree recycling options – they also offer collection services.

In Allerød Municipality, people who live in a house are responsible for delivering their Christmas tree to the designated recycling site. Residents of a block of flats have the option to request tree collection services before the specified deadline (January 4th, 2024).

Residents of Køge Municipality can place their Christmas tree out with general waste in January. It’s important to remember to remove the base and decorations from the tree since it will be recycled.

In Aarhus, there are a number of places where you can drop off your Christmas tree. 

For specific rules and collection schedules in your municipality, contact your local authorities.

Safety precautions

When disposing of your Christmas tree, several options are available – from recycling and using it, or parts of it, in your garden to donating it to a zoo.

However, one method is strongly discouraged: burning the tree in your fireplace.

Depending on the species used, Christmas trees may have needles covered with highly flammable wax and filled with carbon dioxide.

Attempting to burn wood and pine from these trees in your fireplace can release intense heat and flames, potentially leading to chimney fires or even fires within your home.

Furthermore, burning parts of the tree can emit unsafe gases, posing a danger to your health.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

CHRISTMAS

Julefrokost: Denmark’s work Christmas party tradition explained

The arrival of December means 'Julefrokost' season is officially underway in Denmark. Here's what you need to know about the Danish Christmas party tradition.

Published: 1 December 2023 14:52 CET
Updated: 7 December 2023 07:57 CET
Julefrokost: Denmark’s work Christmas party tradition explained

What is a julefrokost?

A julefrokost, or “Christmas lunch”, is a traditional Danish gathering with your co-workers. The event typically includes dinner, typically in the form of a buffet; drinks (lots of them); and eventually dancing and possibly other escapades you may or may not regret in the morning. 

The festive gathering is not just hosted by employers. Clubs, universities and even banks will also hold a julefrokost for their members (don’t expect the latter to host anything at the rowdy end of the scale). But if you’re signed up for lots of clubs, activities, and hobbies, you can expect a packed social calendar over Christmas. 

The tradition of the Christmas party may have wholesome roots, but in the modern day, the julefrokost’s reputation has become more coloured. Seeing as the wicked-strength Aquavit (schnapps) and deceptively-smooth gløgg (mulled wine) typically flow like water during the festive event, embarrassing oneself at a Christmas table is something many Danes have shared reddened cheeks over. 

When is it?

Some companies schedule their Christmas parties in late November or even in January. Employers know how busy people are around the holidays and will therefore often try to pick a date where the most people can attend.

Although this date sometimes ends up outside the few festive weeks leading up to Christmas in December, the most common and popular season for the julefrokost is in early December, when Christmas spirit has set in but still far enough away from Christmas Eve for work festivities not to encroach on family commitments.

A Christmas table can take place at your work, at a restaurant, at an employee’s home, or at an event space. This is likely to depend on the company’s budget for the event. Typically, though, a bar or restaurant is to be expected. 

What should I wear?

Julefrokost attire is an exception to the Danish rule of casual dress. You may wear jeans and a T-shirt at the office, but don’t expect to show up in that casual office wear at a Christmas party and not get a few stares.

Typically, men wear shirts or a nice suit jacket. If you want to impress with a flourish, add a bow tie. A normal tie is also a nice touch. Women usually go glam and opt for glitter, sparkles and jewellery. 

What happens?

Upon entering the venue for the julefrokost (and be sure to do so on time), you can make a good first impression by shaking everyone’s hand and looking them in the eye. If it’s a big company and you don’t know them, say your first name and they will say theirs. This can feel incredibly awkward but it’s nevertheless the done thing.

Once the opening pleasantries and hand-shaking conclude, you’ll be guided to the dinner table.

Danish dinner parties often involve very long spells of sitting, but the julefrokost can take this to a new level. If it’s a larger party and you missed shaking a hand or two at entry, make sure you shake hands with those sitting in your immediate vicinity. After all, you’re going to be next to them for a long time.

When you sit down, you’re likely to find one plate stacked upon the other. That’s because there are rules about the order in which things are eaten and the proper combination of foods. Piling up your first plate with meat and sides is a real rookie mistake. That top plate is for the fish.

What’s on the menu?

There are variations including more modern, vegan-friendly menus, but the classic julefrokost begins with pickled herrings and other fish dishes. Depending upon the host’s ambitions, the selection stretches from a minimum of three to as many as a dozen different types of herring.

From there, you eat your way through a large selection of fish, hot and cold meats (including flæskesteg, roast pork, and frikadeller, meat balls), and finally cheese. 

The most common dessert is risalamande, a Danish take on French rice pudding sweetened and flavoured with vanilla and chopped almonds, and doused in warm cherry sauce. Spoiler alert: it’s delicious and you’ll probably eat too much. To add excitement, your hosts may insert a whole almond in one portion. Remember to chew carefully: the person who finds the intact almond gets a present.

When does the fun start?

A julefrokost standard is the pakkeleg game, in which every guest brings a wrapped present that usually costs no more than 50 kroner. The presents are put in the centre of the table and then you take turns rolling dice. Roll a six and you get a present.

While that sounds innocuous enough, things ratchet up to a new level in round two (keep in mind how many schnapps and glasses of wine have probably been downed by this point).

In this round, when you roll a six you get to take someone else’s present, leading to all sorts of scheming and plotting that inevitably ends with everyone opening the presents they fought so hard for only to realise that it’s mostly useless knick-knacks, purchased from Normal or Tiger on the morning of the party.

By the time this part of the julefrokost is over and the dessert plates have been cleared, all bets are off. The schnapps, juleøl (Christmas beers) and wine will be flowing and chaos may ensue.

When should I leave?

Leave when you like! However, you might want to stay until after dessert is finished to avoid being rude to the party’s planners. And remember, if you have enjoyed the sparkly cocktails and champagne at the party, make sure you have arranged for a safe way to get home.

Sign off with a tak for i aften (“thanks for tonight”) and god jul (“Happy Christmas”) as you leave – unless you’re trying for a discrete exit.

SHOW COMMENTS