Image Credit: FILE PHOTO

When you take down your Christmas tree after the holidays, keep in mind you can dispose of it in an environmentally friendly way and have it chipped, not chucked.

“You can give your tree another life after the holidays by dropping it off at any one of the convenient Chip It locations,” says Waste Reduction Facilitator Rae Stewart with the Regional District. Your tree will then be chipped down and composted into a nutrient rich soil enhancer called GlenGrow. It’s perfect for top dressing your lawn, landscaping, mixing in your vegetable garden and is available at various locations around the area including the Glenmore landfill in the spring.”

If you don’t want to haul your tree to a drop off location, you can also cut it down to size and put the pieces in your yard waste cart for pick up once yard waste collection resumes March 1st, 2017. Keep in mind the prunings and branches need to be no longer than 5cm (2in) in diameter and less than 1 meter (3ft) long.
Please remove all decorations and tinsel before recycling your tree, plus any plastic bags or other materials used for transporting--all of these interfere with the composting process.”

Christmas tree drop-off locations December 26th through January 31st are:

Kelowna and Area:
Ben Lee Park (parking lot at Houghton Road)
Cook Road Boat Launch (parking lot)
*Please note, there is no longer drop off at Richter & Rowcliffe

Glenmore Landfill (Glenmore Road)
Open Monday-Sunday 7:30 am – 4:45 pm.  Closed Dec 25th, 26th and Jan 1st

Westside:
Westside Residential Waste Disposal and Recycling Center (Asquith Road)
Open Friday-Monday 7:30 am – 3:50 pm. Closed Dec 25th and Jan 1st

Lake Country:
Jack Seaton Park (1950 Camp Road)

Peachland:
Compost Site on Princeton Avenue is closed.
Residents can take their trees and yard waste year round to the Westside Residential Waste Disposal Center on Asquith Road in West Kelowna (see hours above)

Peachland Fire Rescue is doing a Christmas Tree Chipping fundraiser campaign for Peachland residents on Saturday January 7th, 2017 from 10am to 2pm.

For a donation towards Muscular Dystrophy, trees can be dropped off at the Peachland Community Centre on 6th Street during the event. As an alternative, for a minimum $5 donation the Peachland Fire Department will come to your home in Peachland throughout the month of January and pick up your tree for disposal. Prior arrangements must be made for tree pick up by contacting the Peachland Fire Department 250.767.2841.

For more information on tree chipping or holiday recycling, visit regionaldistrict.com/recycle, download the free My Waste App (Google Play or App store) , or call the Regional Waste Reduction Office at 250-469-6250.

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