Christmas trees lie abandoned in streets weeks after the council was due to collect them

Browned and withered trees were photographed abandoned in streets around and Morden and south Wimbledon yesterday.

Alan Lee, of Charminster Avenue, said: "As I walk or drive around the borough, I'm upset and disappointed to see so many unloved abandoned Christmas trees littering the footpaths and gardens.

"The trees have been clearly visible and patiently waiting to be collected and recycled for over 60 days since being, stripped of their finery, discarded, displaced and dumped in the cold and wet outdoors after Christmas.

"Now, with age and neglect, their dignity is being compromised as they shed their green covering needles and look totally undesirable."

A Christmas tree is left to die outside a Morden home 

Merton Council instructed residents to leave trees in front of homes, but not on the pavement, between January 5 and 25, for free collection.

The trees would then be composted or turned into chippings to be used as mulch to spread on flower beds.

Councillor Judy Saunders, cabinet member for environmental cleanliness and parking, said: “Merton is one of only a few boroughs that still provides a free home Christmas tree collection service and between January 5 and 25 we collected and composted over 11,000 trees.

An abandoned tree in Charminster Avenue in Morden 

"Every year we ask residents to put their trees in front of their property where they can be clearly seen and in the event of a missed collection, to get in contact with us so we can arrange for the trees to be picked up.

"Trees that have been put out late or left on the street can also be reported through the Love Clean Streets app.”