The city is collecting trees in neighbourhoods for recycling through Jan. 15.
City of Kamloops environmental services manager Glen Farrow said the city has about a dozen Christmas tree drop-off locations throughout neighbourhoods around town.
Trending Stories
Aberdeen residents can drop off trees at Albert McGowan Park, at 2025 Summit Dr.; Brocklehurst residents at Brocklehurst Park, 2470 Fleetwood Ave.; North Kamloops residents at McArthur Island (east of the Sports Centre), 1164 Island Parkway; Dallas residents at the Dallas Fire Hall, 5300 Dallas Dr.; and downtown residents at the Yacht Club, 1140 River St.
The city stockpiles Christmas trees, which are then ground up and composted at Cinnamon Ridge. Farrow said that recycling Christmas trees diverts them from the landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and extending landfill life.
“The Christmas trees go with the leaves and the grass clippings, all of it goes into piles where it gets turned and, essentially, cured,” Farrow said. “There’s a curing process through composting and it’s a beautiful, rich soil amendment a few months later and it gets used in either city parks or in your own garden. It’s the same product that we then sell at Cinnamon Ridge year-round, as well.”
The city has been collecting Christmas trees annually after the holidays for many years and typically rounds up between 3,000 and 3,500 trees. Farrow said between 15 and 20 years ago, it was not unusual to see between 5,000 and 6,000 trees.
“We have seen more people go to fake trees,” he said. “Say over the last 10 to 20 years.”
The service is free to the public. The city asks residents to remove all tinsel and decorations. Those who wish to leave their Christmas tree up longer may take their tree up to Cinnamon Ridge for composting. The neighbourhood drop-off locations are for added convenience. For a map of locations to drop off for recycling Christmas trees, go online to kamloops.ca/city-services/recycling-garbage/composting/christmas-tree-recycling.
