Tuesday, December 28, 2010

What to do after the tree comes down...

From Hillsborough County News


Dec. 28, 2010

Reduce, Reuse or Recycle Your Live Christmas Trees
Make a dent in holiday waste this year by reducing, reusing or recycling your live Christmas tree after you are done celebrating. Hillsborough County Extension offers the following five environmentally-friendly tips.
• Yard Waste Processing Facilities

In Hillsborough County, there are three Yard Waste Processing Facilities that accept Christmas Trees for residential solid waste customers.
350 Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619, phone 813-744-5591
13001 U.S. Highway 41, Gibsonton, FL 33534, phone 813-671-7611
8001 West Linebaugh Avenue, Tampa, FL 33625, phone 813-264-3816
Residential customers must bring their current tax bill and proper identification to access and use the facilities listed above. All decorations, lights and tinsel from trees must be removed. Trees do not need to be cut into sections if delivered to one of above the mentioned sites. However, all trees must be unloaded by the customer. Christmas trees will then be recycled into mulch and other environmentally beneficial by-products. Non-County residential solid waste customers must pay a tonnage fee to use these facilities. Note: Artificial trees are not accepted at County yard waste processing facilities
• Curbside Pick-up

Live Christmas trees can be placed outside for curbside pick-up on regular yard waste collection days. All decorations, lights and tinsel must be removed, and trees must be cut into pieces that are no more than four-feet in length and no more than six-inches in diameter.
• Back Yard

Christmas trees placed in the back yard will provide a habitat for birds and other wildlife. To provide food for birds, hang suet or sliced fruit from the branches.
• Mulch

Chop or grind live Christmas trees and use as mulch around trees, shrubs and flower beds.
• Firewood

Christmas trees can be used as firewood for outside fires, not in a fireplace. The tree must be allowed time to age as burning sap can be smoky and hazardous. Freshly cut wood does not burn as well as aged wood.
For more information regarding recycling live Christmas trees contact:
Lynn Barber
Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Agent
UF-IFAS Hillsborough County Extension
5339 County Road 579
Seffner, FL 33584
(813) 744-5519 x 105

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