Make it a green Christmas - recycle your tree and more

Calgary – There may be snow on the ground, but you can still make it a green Christmas by recycling real Christmas trees, wrapping paper and electronics.

Christmas Trees

You can turn your real Christmas tree into useful mulch instead of garbage through the annual Christmas Tree Recycling program.

"Last year we kept approximately 36,000 trees out of the landfill," says Darcy Cairns, Superintendent of Programs for Waste & Recycling Services. "We collect trees from homes and there are also eight drop-off locations, so it’s really easy for people to participate."

Crews will pick up real Christmas trees from homes that receive residential black cart garbage collection. To participate, place your tree on the ground near your black cart collection spot by 7 a.m. on Thursday, January 9. Make sure the tree is not blocking the street, lane or sidewalk and is at least a foot (30 centimetres) away from your carts. Leave the tree out and it will be picked up within three weeks.

Eight tree drop-off locations will also be open from December 26 to January 31:

• Bowness Fire Station #15 - 6358 35 Avenue NW
• Prairie Winds Park - 223 Castleridge Blvd NE
• Bottomlands Park - St. George's Drive and 7 Avenue NE
• Marda Loop Communities Association - 3130 16 Street SW
• Parks Compound - 10312 Sacramento Drive SW
• Spyhill Landfill* - 69 Street and 112 Avenue NW
• East Calgary Landfill* - 17 Avenue and 68 Street SE
• Shepard Landfill* - 114 Avenue and 68 Street SE

*Landfill locations are closed Sundays.

To prepare your tree for recycling, remove the tree stand and any ornaments and lights. Don’t bag or tie your tree.

The mulch from this program is made available to citizens for gardening and landscaping at the East Calgary landfill while supplies last.

Wrapping

"A lot of gift wrapping can be recycled in your blue cart or at a community recycling depot," says Cairns. "Wrapping paper, for instance, can be crumpled together in a ball and placed loose – not bagged – into the cart." You can also recycle Christmas cards, gift bags and cardboard boxes by placing them loose in the cart. Ribbons, bows, and gift bag handles should be removed and reused or thrown away.

Electronics

If you received a new television, computer or printer for Christmas, consider recycling your old ones rather than throwing them away. There are 30 electronics recycling depots throughout the city that accept material at no charge, including all three City landfills. View a full list at Calgary.ca/waste.

For more information or to find a seasonal drop-off location near you, visit Calgary.ca/waste or contact 311.

Onward/By 2020, per capita waste sent to City of Calgary landfills is reduced from 2007 levels by 80 per cent.

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