Westlake Center bails on tradition; Christmas tree farmer praises the real thing

In a city that’s known for being green all year long, some are taking it to heart that one of Seattle’s most prominent Christmas trees will be made of plastic.

Gene Rosso supplies real evergreens to downtown businesses every holiday season. His Christmas tree farm has procured the Westlake Center tree every year – almost since the tradition’s inception – until now.

The shopping center will sport a plastic tree this year, and that tree will last about five years, said Rosso.

“Their tree costs a lot more than mine, but they’re planning to use it for five years. So if you divide it into five it could be more cost effective,” Rosso tells the Ross & Burbank Show.

What it isn’t, is good for the environment, he said.

“When you throw it away, what happens? It’s plastic that never goes away.”

Rosso said his business recycles trees after the holiday season. Even more earth-friendly: your local Christmas tree farm is good for the environment too.

Photos: A real Christmas tree arrives at the White House

Each year, as families visit tree farms during the holidays, more trees are planted, and that means more trees that will use carbon monoxide.

“[The little trees] suck in the gas that is dangerous for everyone, the big trees are like old men,” Rosso said. Since those big trees aren’t growing as vigorously they use less carbon monoxide than the newly planted trees.

About 60 percent of families that put up trees for the holidays use artificial, according to Rosso. Eventually those trees will get thrown away which is not good for the environment. If those local tree farms close down as well, it just means housing goes up on their acreage and those healthy trees disappear making for a less healthy neighborhood.

But above all said Rosso, “There’s nothing like a real Christmas tree in your house.”