A Message from your Councilor
Gael MacLeod - Ward 4
(December 2011)
Christmas Tree Recycling Program Season’s Greetings, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Regardless of how you celebrate the season, I extend my warmest wishes to you and your family. May festive times with friends and family bring you joyful distractions from our winter chills.
For those of you who include a real tree in your celebrations, I encourage you to participate in the city’s Tree Recycling Program. Last January, Calgary collected over 36,000 Christmas trees through residential pick-up service and drop-off depots.
The Christmas Tree Recycling Program has successfully diverted discarded trees from landfill sites since 1992. The residential pick-up service was added in 2010 to make it even easier for residents to recycle their real trees.
The City of Calgary has ambitious plans to decrease the amount of organic waste that ends up in our landfills. Currently, 60% of our residential garbage is made up of food and yard waste. Innovative city programs aim to divert organic waste from landfills to reduce the creation of greenhouse gases.
From late December through early January, every household that has regular garbage pick-up service can leave their real trees out for pick-up too. You are asked to remove all decorations and tinsel from your tree, leave it unwrapped and place it at least one foot from your black cart. You can also take your tree directly to one of the designated drop-off depots.
Trees collected are chipped into organic mulch and properly composted to remove pests like gypsy moth larvae. The mulch is then used in city green spaces including the Calgary Zoo. Later in the spring and while quantities last, residents can acquire some of the mulch at no charge from the East Calgary Landfill for use in their gardens.
By participating in organics recycling programs, residents help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and extend the life of our landfills. The program also helps garbage collection crews stay on schedule so they canfocus on the extra volumes of seasonal waste.
Please check the city website (www.calgary.ca) for Christmas tree pick-up dates, drop-off depot locations and other innovative recycling programs offered by the City of Calgary. My office is also always available to answer any questions you have. Please contact my Community Assistant at 403-268-3727 or alcaw4[@]calgary.ca.
Councillor Gael MacLeod