LAC LA BICHE - As the holiday season wraps up, people are taking down their Christmas trees, and for those who opt for a real tree, that often means tossing the tree in the garbage.
But since 2014, Lac La Biche County has operated a program where Christmas trees are picked up at curbside and reused.
Julia Shapka, environmental services coordinator for Lac La Biche County, says the initiative provides residents of the municipality with a convenient and responsible method of recycling their natural Christmas trees. It also promotes the County’s wood recycling program and prevents residents from unnecessarily burning their trees.
“The Christmas Tree Recycling Program is an annual post-holiday tradition that helps residents start each new year on a green note,” Shapka tells Lakeland This Week. “For every tree that is recycled, we plant a new one in a local park.”
The number of trees picked up at curbside and recycled has ranged from between 20-40 each year, says Shapka.
Recycled trees are taken to the natural wood recycling pile at Lac La Biche County landfills and are processed through a woodchipper. The chipped-up wood is then used as daily cover on the landfill, which Shapka says is a requirement to protect the exposed waste from wind, rain, or animals.
“It then comes full circle when tree seedlings are planted in our local parks and open spaces to compensate for the natural trees that were cut down for Christmas.”
According to Shapka, curbside pickup service is available this year from Jan. 2-17 and residents can contact the municipality at (780) 623-6739 to have their trees picked up.
Only natural trees will be accepted, meaning that they must not have any decorations remaining on them.
Residents who do not receive curbside service, or miss the deadline, can still bring their trees to one of the County landfills and transfer stations free of charge.