Those recycled Christmas trees will help with habitat restoration
Tree collection to run Jan. 9 to 13 on regular garbage day; just place them at the curb
As the calendar turns to a new year, Niagara residents will start the process of saying goodbye to another holiday season. And for many, a major task will involve taking down the Christmas tree.
For people who purchased a real tree this winter, disposal is relatively straight forward.
Niagara Region will run its annual Christmas tree collection Jan. 9 through 13, taking place on the regular garbage collection day for residents in single-family homes and apartments with six units or less.
Christmas trees must be placed at the curb no later than 7 a.m. on day of pickup, with residents asked to remove all decorations (bulbs, tinsel, lights) before placing the tree at the end of the driveway. Residents are also asked to avoid placing the tree inside a bag (or wrapping it in plastic) prior to collection.
In the event of snow, don’t place the tree on top of, or inside, a snow bank.
Following each collection, Niagara Region communications consultant Janet Rose said most Christmas trees in Niagara are composted as part of operations at the Walker Industries facility. However, when opportunity arises, the Region works with organizations that use trees for other environmental projects, such as habitat restoration. Including this year.
“In 2020, Niagara Parks used Region-collected Christmas trees as part of a fish habitat restoration project,” said Rose.
“In 2023, a portion of the Region’s collected Christmas trees are destined to become important habitat restoration with the help of Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.”
That is just one of the benefits of real Christmas trees, said Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario executive director Shirley Brennan. Even if, in the event a real tree ends up in the landfill, because it’s 100 per cent biodegradable, it will break down and is “always adding nutrients back into the ground.”
“The other (artificial) tree isn’t100 per cent biodegradable. It doesn’t matter how many years you have that tree before you throw it out. Once you throw it out, it’s not 100 per cent biodegradable,” said Brennan.
As interest in real Christmas trees surged, Ontario has also seen an increase in programs for recycling trees.
Brennan said stewardships and conservation areas are using trees for ecological habitat in rivers and streams to help stop erosion. Rehabilitation farms for animals have been asking for tree donations in recent years. And many communities will mulch the trees and use them in community gardens. Or in some cases, sell them back to the community and give the money as donations to local community groups.
“There’s a lot of programs that go on for recycling trees,” she said. “I encourage everyone to look at their local community and find out what is out there.”
More information on Niagara’s Christmas tree collection can be found at niagararegion.ca/waste/collection/items/christmastrees.aspx.
If pickup is missed, residents can also take Christmas trees to a dropoff depot or landfill site, free of charge.
Artificial trees will not be collected during the collection, with residents asked to use the large item collection service to dispose of artificial trees, if necessary.