Keep Opelika Beautiful hosts tree recycling event

By Rebekah Martin
Assistant Editor

What happens to that beautiful Douglas Fir or Colorado Blue Spruce that was strung with lights and decorated with ornaments when it comes time to undeck the halls?
Many Christmas trees will ultimately end up in a landfill – sometimes taking years to decompose. Keep Opelika Beautiful is providing a way for environmentally-minded residents to recycle their Christmas trees this season.
The recycling event will take place in the parking lot of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, 601 Ave. A, Dec. 27 from 8 a.m. until noon.
As an incentive, Home Depot of Tiger Town will have a chipper on-site ready to mulch the trees. Participants will be given a bag of mulch for recycling. Recycled tree mulch can be used for a number of purposes, compost, gardening or erosion prevention.
Tipi Miller of Keep Opelika Beautiful said this event is a great alternative to simply throwing a Christmas tree out.
“We want to encourage people to recycle their trees in an effort to keep them out of landfills,” Miller said. “A typical Christmas tree can take years to biodegrade if not property mulched.”
Christmas trees brought to the event must be natural with all ornaments, tinsel, lights and tree stands removed.
There is no cost involved in participating in the recycling event. Miller said there will be plenty of volunteers present the day of the event to aid in unloading trees.
The Opelika Tree Commission will also be giving away tree seedlings during the recycling event.
For other ideas and information about recycling Christmas trees, check out the National Christmas Tree Association, www.realchristmastrees.org.