San Francisco Business Times: Tree Recycling Boosts Bay Area Communities
Filed under: Earth 911 - December 24, 2007
Christmas trees days are numbered, leaving one question: What to do with them when the holidays are over.
In keeping with the spirit of “green,” a tree-growers association said Monday the best environmental option is recycling.
“Many Californians who are concerned with creating a more eco-conscious holiday purchased a real Christmas tree this year because of the environmental benefits it provides throughout its lifecycle, and recycling is just the next step in the process,” said Gayla Hansen, president of the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association.
The Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association supplies more than 90 percent of the Christmas trees purchased in California during the holidays. The group said recycled real Christmas trees can be used in a variety of ways throughout the community.
For example, recycled Christmas trees can be used as mulch along park trails, turned into corrugated packaging, used as compost for gardens, or even sunk into local lakes to create protective habitats that provide fish with a safe environment in which to live.
Bay Area cities have a variety of different programs for Christmas tree recycling. Some municipalities offer curb-side pickup, and others have designated collection sites where trees can be dropped off for recycling. To see what services are available in your community, visit earth911.org and enter your ZIP code.