Recycle Your Christmas Tree And Get A Native Tree Seedling

CHESTERMERE – This holiday season, Rocky View County is celebrating its 5th annual Christmas tree exchange program and is giving back to the environment and providing residents a great recycling opportunity. When recycling their natural Christmas tree, residents will receive a free coupon for a native tree seedling to plant in the spring.
The program, inspired by Alberta Environment’s “One Simple Act”, benefits the environment in two ways. First, the trees are mulched and made into compost, reducing the waste going into the landfill. The second benefit is the new seedlings planted in the spring will replace the trees cut down for the holiday season.
“Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by as much as 90 kilograms by planting one tree. Recycling your tree is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint,” says Joanne Walroth, Solid Waste and Recycling Officer, Rocky View County. “This program is possible thanks to great partners like Bow Point Nursery and Branched Out Nursery who provide the seedling coupons to make it a success.”
To receive a coupon for a seedling, residents may bring natural trees to a County transfer site to the Langdon Transfer site: December 22 to January 19 or to the Chestermere Public Works Yard.
Coupons are available from December 22 to January 19, 2012. If dropping off a tree at a partner location, contact the County to get your free coupon by email at Hawksley@rockyview.ca or phone 403.520.7286.
By recycling your real Christmas tree, you will help keep trees out of the landfill and help our garbage collection crews stay on schedule during a busy time.
The Recycle Site will be open over the holidays, December 24, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 31.
They will be closed on Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25, and Sunday, December 30.
When preparing your tree for drop off be sure to remove all ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand and do not bag or wrap your tree (including recycling tree bags).