It is that unfortunate season when everyone is compelled to part with their cherished Christmas trees. This act can be quite a dreary custom. What used to be a beautiful, shimmering display of verdant conifer needles and radiant red and white decorations is usually discarded on the pavement with yesterday’s rubbish like a poorly disposed entity. Alternatively, if you’re in Belgium, you might be literally consuming your tree in a peculiar attempt to “recycle” it.

Indeed, the Belgian administration was recently compelled to release a peculiar public service announcement warning its populace not to consume their old Christmas trees.

“Christmas trees are not meant to be part of the food ecosystem,” Hélène Bonte, a representative of the agency, informed the New York Times on Wednesday. She further mentioned: “There is a distinction between utilizing needles from untouched nature and needles from trees specifically cultivated for Christmas and home decoration.”

The reason for this statement by officials is linked to the authorities in Ghent, a northern Belgian city, who had recently encouraged locals to repurpose the remaining needles from their trees to create “tasty spruce needle butter,” which can complement toast and other baked products. An internet page promoting the reuse of festive resources advises locals to detach needles from their previous trees and steep them in boiling water. “Once the needles are dried, you can craft delectable spruce needle butter for bread or toast,” the page claims, branding the method as exceedingly simple and a measure to ensure “your Christmas tree is not entirely waste.”

The issue with heating your old Christmas tree needles is that numerous have been heavily treated with various pesticides. Furthermore, certain types of tree needles are intrinsically toxic.

Ghent’s intentions were clearly well-meaning, as they aimed to encourage their community not to squander the food and resources associated with holiday celebrations. However, not every recycling effort is equally viable.

The initiative to persuade individuals to consume their Christmas trees originated from the city’s climate team, aimed at promoting sustainability and recycling. “The social media post regarding culinary applications of Christmas tree needles is part of a wider strategy involving reuse, recycling, and a circular economy,” the local authorities communicated to the Times via email.

The Ghent webpage currently contains a section that reads: “Note: not all Christmas trees are consumable,” followed by a list of possible health hazards associated with consuming your old tree.