healthy living
O (real, local) Christmas tree Thy leaves are so recyclable and healthful, actually LEA HANSON
Where to recycle your tree
T
hose who celebrate Christmas and/or decorate for the winter holidays with a Christmas tree know choices abound when it comes to picking out the perfect tree. FAKE VERSUS REAL Artificial trees have one clear advantage over farmed ones: They last a long time. But they also have one clear disadvantage: They last a long time. True, using a fake tree prevents us from cutting down a tree; but trees are a renewable resource and it’s pretty easy to grow new ones. Artificial trees are made of PVC plastic and wire, and many come with LED lights. They’re almost impossible to recycle. They’re also often made in China and therefore require enormous amounts of natural resources to be shipped to our local store to be ready for purchase. RESPONSIBLE BUYING While real trees create less pollution to produce (they actually add to our earth’s health rather than take from it), unless you’re buying one grown locally or cutting it down yourself, it’s not necessarily “green” when one considers the fuel and resources needed to get it to your neighborhood parking lot. So the most environmentally responsible tree-buying is 16
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either chopping your own or obtaining a real one that is locally grown. Christmas tree permits, which allow you to cut your own Christmas tree on public lands, are now on sale at National Forest/BLM offices and selected retail outlets in northern Colorado. According to the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, this year’s regional primary Christmas tree cutting dates will be December 5-13, 2015. Christmas Tree Permits cost $10 per tree (limit five per household), are for personal use only (not for resale). They can be purchased at any Forest Service Ranger District Office. It’s easy to make an event out of tree-cutting at Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch in Red Feather Lakes. In addition to cutting a tree, you can enjoy hot cocoa in the restaurant and slide down the tubing hill. Tree cutting begins on Nov. 19 and goes through Christmas Eve. If you’re committed to buying a locally grown tree, but aren’t interested in cutting your own, there are many options including The Windsor Christmas Tree Farm (www.colorado.com/farm-ranchactivities/windsor-christmas-tree-farm). Additionally, most local nurseries will offer fresh, locally raised trees for sale for easy, convenient selection and pick up.
Most municipalities in the U.S. offer some kind of recycling program for dried out Christmas trees, and the variety of uses for those tired old trees is truly astonishing. In the City of Fort Collins and in Larimer County, trees are recycled is via the wood chipper, producing mulch that is then distributed to residents or used in community projects. To recycle your tree this year, remove all decorations, including tinsel, lights, plastic, etc., and take your tree to one of the following free drop-off locations:
Fort Collins:
• Edora Park, 1420 E. Stuart St. (Tennis court parking lot) • Larimer County Landfill, 5887 S. Taft Hill Rd. (Monday – Saturday, 8am to 4:30pm) • Rolland Moore Park, 2201 S. Shields St. (Parking lot, S.E. corner) • Streets Department, 625 Ninth Street (S.W. corner of Lemay Ave. and E. Vine Dr.)
Wellington:
• Wellington Recycling Drop-Off Site (corner of 6th Street and Grant Ave.)
Greeley:
• Greeley Organic Waste Center (one mile east of U.S. 85 on East 8th St.) • A -1 Organics (16350 County Rd. 76, Eaton)
Loveland:
• Centennial Park (West 1st and Taft Ave.) • Loveland Recycling Center (off of 1st Street & Wilson Avenue) • Kroh Park (North Highway 287 and 52nd St.)
Windsor:
• Brush Recycling Site & Recycling Center (801 Diamond Valley Dr.)