A TOTTON man has launched his own Christmas tree recycling business ready for this year's festive season.

With only eight weeks left until the big day, Hampshire residents are being encouraged to use a new eco-friendly option when shopping for their festive tree this year thanks to a recycling service from new company Eco Elf.

This new venture offers people the chance to choose their own real potted Christmas tree, which will be delivered to their door and then collected again in January.

The tree is returned to a farm where it is re-acclimatised to living outside and kept safe and healthy, ready for next year.

Callum O’Driscoll, from Totton, came up with the idea after seeing the queues of trees waiting to be destroyed after Christmas in 2020.

He said: “I love having a big Christmas tree with all the decorations and lights, but it always seems like a bit of a waste.

“If you buy an artificial tree it’s largely made from plastic and not good for the environment, and if you buy a real tree it’s only enjoyed for a few weeks before the whole thing is chipped up.

"I knew there had to be a better way of having the joy of a Christmas tree without the environmental impact, and from there Eco Elf was born.”

Customers can even choose a tree to have returned to them year after year, safe in the knowledge that it’s looked after ready to shine at Christmas.

Callum has worked hard to partner with experienced tree farmers and suppliers to ensure every aspect of the trees’ journey is as sustainable as possible, right down to the biodegradable netting used to protect the tree during transportation.

He added: “Christmas is my favourite time of year but with all the decorations and presents, it’s hard to find ways to celebrate sustainably.

"Christmas trees can take between five and seven years to grow ready to be displayed, it’s a huge effort to go and destroy it a short time later.

"Our aim is to provide a service that still brings that magical joy we all associate with the festive season in a way that’s much kinder to the planet.”

To find out more about Eco Elf and potted Christmas trees for delivery and collection, visit: https://eco-elf.co.uk/