What to Do With Your Christmas Tree and Trash
By: Brad Haller
Updated: December 27, 2011
(Springfield, MO) -- Americans throw away about 4 million tons of trash every holiday season, from gift-wrapping and shopping bags to Christmas cards and ribbons.
And, it turns out getting rid of your tree doesn't mean you have to stop spreading the holiday spirit!
CHRISTMAS TREES
Don't just leave your Christmas tree by the curb and assume regular trash pick-up crews will get it. Instead, recycle it locally; it turns out Christmas trees make excellent mulch.
Bass Pro will accept trees at the fenced area at the northwest end of the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World parking lot directly behind the store at 1935 S. Campbell Ave. from December 26 to January 1 from noon to 6 p.m. daily.
The fee is $2 or more per tree donation. Boy Scouts will use the trees for fish habitats.
"For 25 years, we've been collecting the trees and putting them in area lakes for fish habitats,"
says Larry Whitely. "Conservation Department Corps of Engineers is very happy with it. They have areas marked where people can go and find the trees. It hopefully gets fish on them."
You'll want to remove all ice cycles, ornaments, and tree stand. No flocked trees will be accepted. Call (417) 873-5022 for more information.
Wickman's Gardens will accept trees at 1345 S. Fort Ave., in Springfield and at 10791 U.S. 60 in Monett through January 13, 2012. In Springfield, the hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday's hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday's hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"We provide the chipper and everything. If you want you can bring in your tree and 5 dollars and you can get a bucket of mulch to bring home with you," says Don McElhany.
In Monett, the hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The fee is $5 per tree at both locations.
Proceeds will be donated to The Kitchen. Trees will be ground into wood chip mulch, which is available for free. You'll want to take your own container and remove all ice cycles, ornaments, and tree stand. No flocked trees will be accepted. For more information, call (417) 862-3707 in Springfield, or (417) 235-1112 in Monett. You can also visit http://www.wickmans.com
The Yardwaste Recycling Center in Springfield will accept Christmas trees all year. It's closed on January 1st. The regular hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It's closed on Sundays and Mondays. Donations are accepted.
The City says the brush recycling fee of $3 will be waived for Christmas trees through January 28, 2012. Otherwise, the $3 gate fee will apply. Existing commercial fees will apply to commercial loads, including Christmas trees.
You'll want to remove all ice cycles, ornaments and the tree stand. Call (417) 864-1904 for more information or go online: http://www.springfieldmo.gov/recycling
And, it turns out getting rid of your tree doesn't mean you have to stop spreading the holiday spirit!
CHRISTMAS TREES
Don't just leave your Christmas tree by the curb and assume regular trash pick-up crews will get it. Instead, recycle it locally; it turns out Christmas trees make excellent mulch.
Bass Pro will accept trees at the fenced area at the northwest end of the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World parking lot directly behind the store at 1935 S. Campbell Ave. from December 26 to January 1 from noon to 6 p.m. daily.
The fee is $2 or more per tree donation. Boy Scouts will use the trees for fish habitats.
"For 25 years, we've been collecting the trees and putting them in area lakes for fish habitats,"
says Larry Whitely. "Conservation Department Corps of Engineers is very happy with it. They have areas marked where people can go and find the trees. It hopefully gets fish on them."
You'll want to remove all ice cycles, ornaments, and tree stand. No flocked trees will be accepted. Call (417) 873-5022 for more information.
Wickman's Gardens will accept trees at 1345 S. Fort Ave., in Springfield and at 10791 U.S. 60 in Monett through January 13, 2012. In Springfield, the hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday's hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday's hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"We provide the chipper and everything. If you want you can bring in your tree and 5 dollars and you can get a bucket of mulch to bring home with you," says Don McElhany.
In Monett, the hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The fee is $5 per tree at both locations.
Proceeds will be donated to The Kitchen. Trees will be ground into wood chip mulch, which is available for free. You'll want to take your own container and remove all ice cycles, ornaments, and tree stand. No flocked trees will be accepted. For more information, call (417) 862-3707 in Springfield, or (417) 235-1112 in Monett. You can also visit http://www.wickmans.com
The Yardwaste Recycling Center in Springfield will accept Christmas trees all year. It's closed on January 1st. The regular hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It's closed on Sundays and Mondays. Donations are accepted.
The City says the brush recycling fee of $3 will be waived for Christmas trees through January 28, 2012. Otherwise, the $3 gate fee will apply. Existing commercial fees will apply to commercial loads, including Christmas trees.
You'll want to remove all ice cycles, ornaments and the tree stand. Call (417) 864-1904 for more information or go online: http://www.springfieldmo.gov/recycling
FOOD WASTE
Food waste during the period between Halloween and New Year's Day, is the highest of any time during the year. Before you prepare holiday meals, take a head count and adjust the amount of food accordingly to avoid waste. Be creative with leftovers.
Holiday cooks are also advised to use extra care to properly dispose of grease generated by large holiday meals so that it doesn't create problems in the City's sewer lines. Never pour grease down the drain. Even if you run hot water down the line, the grease cools and solidifies as it moves through the sewer line. Hot water will not solve the problem! Instead, pour grease into a metal or glass container and place in the trash.
You can also line your container by pouring cooled grease into a plastic bag. You may also use a heat-resistant liner. A lid is required on a container holding liquid grease. Containers that contain solid grease do not need a lid.
Scrape food and grease from dishes and pans prior to washing. This type of waste also can be placed in the trash. Use a basket or strainer in the sink to catch greasy food scraps. To receive a copy of a brochure on "fat-free sewers," contact: Randy Lyman, Public Works Department, Sanitary Services Division, 864-1921.
WRAPPING WASTE
The more than 2 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the U.S. could fill a football field ten stories high. Half of all paper Americans buy each year is used to wrap and decorate consumer products. And if every family re-used just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon we saved could tie a bow around the entire planet.
The more than 2 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the U.S. could fill a football field ten stories high. Half of all paper Americans buy each year is used to wrap and decorate consumer products. And if every family re-used just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon we saved could tie a bow around the entire planet.
To reduce and reuse wrapping, try making the wrapping a part of the gift; for example, wrap a kitchen utensil in a new kitchen towel. When shopping, consolidate purchases into one big bag, rather than getting a new bag at each stop.
Decorate brown paper sacks as wrap using rubber stamps, recycled Christmas cards, or drawings. Consider using paper that can easily be recycled, such as old newspaper comic sections, old maps, or children's artwork. Save gift bags, boxes, bows and ribbons for reuse next year.
Another good idea is to recycle wrap and packing materials. Paperboard (example: wrapping paper rolls and cardboard) is easily recycled at the City of Springfield's Recycling Centers. Christmas gift wrap also is accepted - no plastic and no foil. Call the Recycling Hotline (864-1904).
Styrofoam packing peanuts and sheets can be recycled in several locations in Springfield. Call the City's Recycling Hotline (864-1904) or visit the website listed above for information.
If you're replacing old, used items with new ones, donate clothes and useable household items to local charities.
REDUCE HOLIDAY TOXINS
Do not burn wrapping paper - the colored paper contains lead and other heavy metals. Make sure your home is "childproof" for young visitors: put cleaners and pesticides out of reach; don't leave alcohol, perfume or after-shave under the tree.
Do not use imported, decorative candles that emit black smoke - this often indicates the presence of lead in the wick. Bubble lights can contain a toxic liquid; bulbs can cause burns - don't leave young children alone with decorated trees.
Mistletoe is highly toxic to children and pets - use artificial rather than the real thing. Other plants with toxic or irritating characteristics include: amaryllis (bulb), balsam, cedar, Christmas cactus, Christmas rose, elderberry, English Ivy, holly, juniper, narcissus (bulb) and several types of lily.
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