San Jose nonprofit rents out Christmas trees

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- We're just weeks away from Christmas and that means a lot of families will be looking for that perfect Christmas tree. But have you ever thought about renting one?

One South Bay nonprofit is offering just that this year for those who are opting to go green.

Bill Abel and Kaylee Pineault are decorating their first Christmas tree together. It's a 3-foot-tall spruce.

They're also starting a new holiday tradition together, renting their Christmas tree.

"Christmas is about giving and everything but people forget that it's still having an effect on the environment," Abel said.

"It's a lot of trees wasted ever year and it's hard to recycle," Pineault said.

For $35, they'll keep their little tree for 30 days and then return it, in its original pot, to Our City Forest, an environmental nonprofit in San Jose.

It costs $15-$85 to rent one of these trees. You do have to sign a rental agreement that says you promise to take care of the tree. But if you damage it, you will have to pay a fee.

While organizers doubt that will happen, they do want to add a greener option.

"We're not trying to carry on the ideal Christmas tree. It's more for the idea of you're helping the environment by not getting a cut tree," Our City Forest's Renay McCollum said.

But for others, getting a freshly cut tree can't be beat. "It's tradition. I'm big on tradition, so I think I would always do it this way," Jenna Johnson said.

There are fewer than 200 rent-a-trees left at Our City Forest. To find out how you can rent a tree, click here.