Christmas tree recycling offered

The Christmas tree doesn’t have to go to waste once the holidays are over, according to Waste Management/G.I. Industries officials.

Waste Management, which collects trash and recyclables from residents and businesses in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, offers its customers a variety of environmentally-friendly ways to recycle or dispose of Christmas trees.

“Every year in California, more than 40,000 tons of Christmas trees require handling at the end of the holiday season,” said Mike Smith, market area manager for Waste Management/ G.I. Industries. “Most communities throughout the state recognize that the final proper resting place for cut Christmas trees is not in a landfill. If you have a tree in your home, please recycle it when the holidays are over, as the trees can be recycled for many uses.”

Waste Management customers can recycle their Christmas trees by cutting them in half and placing the pieces of the tree in their yard trimmings cart on their scheduled pick up day.

Christmas trees may also be taken free of charge for recycling directly to the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center at 2801 Madera Road in Simi Valley between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday through Jan. 14. Be sure to remove all decorations, including ornaments, tinsel, lights and the tree stand before recycling a Christmas tree.

Trees collected either at the curbside or taken to the landfill’s green waste processing center will be mulched for reuse. Flocked trees cannot be recycled, but will be collected if cut into three-foot sections and placed into the regular trash cart.

For more information about tree recycling, go online to www. KeepingVenturaCountyClean.com.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Works also offers tree recycling programs. For details or to learn more about L.A. County’s other waste reduction programs, call the county’s hotline at (888) CLEAN LA or visit www.888CleanLA.com.