Practical Sustainability in Tree Surgery: Our Approach at Alba Tree Surgeons
At Alba Tree Surgeons, sustainability isn’t a slogan or a box we tick — it’s a practical part of how we run our business day to day. As a family-run tree surgery company based in Edinburgh, we work closely with trees, green spaces, and local communities, so it’s important to us that we look after them responsibly.
This post explains what sustainability means in practice for our work, the choices we’re making as a small business, and how those choices benefit both our customers and the environment.
Environmentally Responsible Tree Care in Edinburgh
We started Alba Tree Surgeons after recognising a growing demand for responsible, environmentally conscious tree care. Many customers want professional tree work carried out safely and efficiently — but also want reassurance that waste is managed properly and trees are treated with care.
Our services include:
Tree and hedge removal
Pruning and maintenance
Ongoing tree care advice
All work is carried out by a trained, certified team, with safety, property protection, and long-term tree health at the forefront.
Reducing Waste Through Responsible Green Recycling
Tree surgery naturally produces green waste, but where that material ends up matters.
All timber, branches, and vegetation generated through our work are managed responsibly. By partnering with Forth Resource Management, Scotland’s leading green waste recycling provider, we ensure that as much material as possible is diverted from landfill and repurposed into:
Compost
Topsoil
Reusable wood products
This approach reduces waste, lowers environmental impact, and helps close the loop between tree removal and soil regeneration.
Moving Toward Battery-Powered Tree Surgery Equipment
We have begun transitioning away from petrol-powered machinery by introducing electric chainsaws and gradually expanding our battery-powered toolkit.
This shift helps to:
Reduce fuel use and emissions
Lower noise pollution, particularly in residential areas
Improve comfort and safety for our team through lighter, ergonomically safer equipment
As a small business, we’re taking a phased and realistic approach to this transition, assessing performance and suitability as we go. Even at this early stage, the benefits are clear.
Helping Customers Reuse Timber and Woodchip
Client education plays an important role in how we work.
Where appropriate, we encourage customers to:
Keep timber for firewood
Reuse woodchip for garden paths, beds, or weed suppression
These options reduce waste and provide practical, low-cost benefits for homeowners. Many customers are now choosing to reuse materials rather than dispose of them, which extends the environmental impact of each job well beyond the day the work is carried out.
When Tree Retention Is the Right Option
Not every enquiry for tree removal results in a tree being taken down.
Where a request can be addressed through selective pruning or alternative management, we will always discuss those options with the client first. Retaining a healthy tree can:
Protect the surrounding environment
Preserve shade, biodiversity, and visual value
Reduce unnecessary removal
For customers, this often leads to a more sustainable long-term solution and ongoing maintenance rather than a one-off intervention.
Supporting Local Schools and Community Spaces
When working locally, we are often asked by schools and community centres if we can provide surplus timber or woodchip for gardens and outdoor spaces. Where possible, we’re happy to do so.
This ensures materials are reused within the community and helps support:
School gardens
Community green spaces
Educational and environmental projects
It’s a simple way to ensure that the benefits of our work extend beyond individual properties.
Why This Matters to Us
Sustainability for us is about making responsible choices that are practical, honest, and achievable. As a small business, we don’t claim to have all the answers — but we’re committed to improving how we work, reducing waste, and supporting our local environment wherever we can.
These decisions also help us build trust with our customers and create long-term relationships based on transparency and care.
Looking Ahead
We’re continuing to invest in:
More battery-powered equipment
Improved reuse of timber and green waste
Practical, circular approaches to tree care
We believe that responsible tree surgery benefits everyone — homeowners, communities, and the environment.
If you’d like to discuss a job or learn more about how we work, feel free to get in touch.
