| Recycling is fun, easy and gives a sense of a job | | | | a pick-up truck. You will need at least two |
| well done at the end of the day. However, one | | | | able-bodied persons per vehicle and they may |
| recycling department that is grossly overlooked is | | | | expect to put in a full day's work anytime |
| the need to recycle Christmas trees. In the old | | | | between December 26th and the first week of |
| days, we tossed the tree to the curb, and a | | | | January. |
| nameless, faceless person hauled it away. | | | | 3. Send out flyers or door hangers to advertise |
| However, in today's conscientious green society, a | | | | to your community that you will arrive between a |
| discarded Christmas tree can be a treasure to | | | | set number of days to clear away their |
| the environment and it takes so little effort to | | | | Christmas trees. In addition, you may want to ask |
| make it all happen. | | | | the recipients to remove the tinsel and baubles to |
| Though the holidays may be over, the life of your | | | | save your crew time in stripping the trees. |
| Christmas tree lives on. Tree-cycling has many | | | | 4. Communicate with your customers that |
| benefits to include mulching for public reservations, | | | | flocked trees can not be accepted and that the |
| prevention of coastline erosion, and can be a | | | | trees must not be wrapped in plastic or contain |
| valuable asset for fish habitats. Even the state of | | | | any nails, screws, etc. And, of course, artificial |
| Vermont has put the dry and brittle Christmas | | | | trees are of no ecological value. |
| tree to use with a chipping program designed to | | | | 5. Plan your district pick-ups with precision to |
| create electricity. | | | | make the most of the fuel economy. This entails |
| If you would like to participate in a Christmas tree | | | | working from a map and keeping the residential |
| recycling program, check with your city's chamber | | | | sections logged and checked off when the mission |
| of commerce for activists to perform the task, | | | | is accomplished. The driver of the trucks are |
| or you may wish to take the initiative in your | | | | usually the best coordinators, however, you may |
| community and start your own Christmas tree | | | | need to set up an office and delegate to a |
| recycling program for non-profit and fundraising | | | | dispatch person. |
| purposes. Getting started is easier than you think, | | | | 6. If you run out of time, personnel and resources |
| and you can be up and running by next Christmas | | | | to pick up every tree on your neighborhood list, |
| season. | | | | its still a good idea to get the trees recycled |
| 1. Contact your city officials to ascertain where | | | | anyway. You may mention on your flyers that a |
| the nearest recycled Christmas tree drop-off | | | | tree that is chopped and placed into the natural |
| sites are located. Most major municipalities have a | | | | materials garbage bin will be sent for recycling if |
| designated green garbage dump site where great | | | | the tree is free of decorations and spray-on |
| care is given to reusable materials and who pay a | | | | snow. Although you might not cash in on every |
| fare price for receiving them. | | | | Christmas tree, you can make a difference by |
| 2. Organize a team to pick up the discarded trees | | | | educating people on what to do. Basic human |
| in your neighborhood and designate a driver with | | | | nature wants to help. Let it. |