The Modesto Bee: Make That Tree Green Again
Filed under: Earth 911 - December 28, 2007
By Eve Hightower
It filled your house at Christmastime with the seasonal scent of pine. It held the promise of a cheery Christmas morning and stood proudly displaying lights and baubles dangling over carefully chosen gifts.
Now, it’s trash.
Eager to return their homes to more modest pre-Christmas decor, some people already have discarded their trees in street gutters. But there are things you can do with the tree.
Before tossing it out, save some branches. Once they’ve dried, crumble the needles in a mix with cinnamon sticks and cloves. Keep the mix in a tightly sealed jar for next year. Sew it into sachets for little gifts.
Use it in the garden. Place trimmed branches over perennial beds to reduce potential frost damage. Use the trunk as a stake for a young tree or tomato plant in the summer.
Too much effort? Then go ahead and toss it in the gutter or alley. It won’t go to waste. Many cities will pick up trees starting at the beginning of the new year. They will be picked up along with trash, recyclables and compost on your regular pickup day, said Sabrina Caldwell, administrative clerk for Oakdale Public Works Department.
Curbside pickup in Modesto will begin Jan. 7. Alley pickup in Modesto will start Jan. 21. Keep your trees until at least 72 hours before pickup, according to Department of Urban Forestry Superintendent Bill Dufresne.
Those left curbside or put into yard-waste bins will be added to city compost, which eventually is put back on the ground to nurture growing plants.
Separate trees from trash so it’s easy to pick up. Lights, ornaments, tinsel and stands must be removed, said Dennis Shuler, environmental affairs manager at Gilton Resources Recovery. Gilton does much of the area’s waste disposal.
If you want to toss out your artificial tree, put it in the garbage can. It’s fake and will take centuries to decompose.
Tree pickup service is not available to county residents. Those who prefer to compost their trees rather than burn them or add to landfills can find the nearest tree recycler by entering a ZIP code in the Earth911.org or christmastree.org tree recycling search.
In some cases, the farm where you bought your Christmas tree will take it back and mulch it.
According to tradition, trees and wreaths should be disposed of by Jan. 5, the beginning of the 12th night of Christmas. Some believe leaving the tree up past the 12th night is bad luck.
For more information about tree pickup, Modesto residents can call the Urban Forestry Division at 342-2249. Residents of other cities should call their public works departments for more information.