The holiday season has come to an end and those cherished evergreens that graced our homes for Christmas are starting to dry up. Unlike their artificial counterparts, real trees cannot be stored in a box until next time. So, how can you easily dispose of your tree this year?
According to the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), there are 25-30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States every year.
Real trees are biodegradable, which means they can easily be reused or recycled for mulch and other purposes like fish feeders and soil erosion barriers. Because of this, trees are being recycled and reused in communities nationwide.
The NCTA says there are over 4,000 local Christmas tree recycling programs throughout the U.S. The city of Morgantown is joining in with a program for local residents.
The city will offer an easy method to get rid of your tree with a free curbside Christmas tree recycling program for city residents according to a recent news release.
Beginning Monday and running until Jan. 18, Morgantown residents can contact the City of Morgantown Engineering and Public Works Department to pick up their Christmas tree between 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Residents may also drop off Christmas trees during the designated times at the Morgantown Municipal Garage, at 200 M-Tech Drive near the Monongalia County Technical Education Center in Morgantown.
All trees must be free of all decorations, including hooks, garland, tinsel, and lighting, the release said. Trees should be left loose for pick-up and not placed in a bag or a trash can.
Up to 200 of the recycled trees collected by the department will be donated to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to enhance the fish habitat in Cheat Lake, the release said. Any additional trees collected will be chipped and used as mulch.
To schedule a tree pick-up, residents can call the Engineering and Public Works Department at 304-291-7465 or send an email to bmorgan@morgantownwv.gov with your name, phone number, address, and desired day of pick-up. Pick-ups may be delayed by inclement weather.
The city recommends that residents schedule their Christmas tree pick-up on a different day than their regular trash pick-up to ensure the tree will not be picked up by Republic Services.
