Christmas tree recycling

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Residents are invited to recycle Christmas trees and burnt out Christmas lights at several locations throughout the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen.

Used Christmas lights and all other lighting equipment can be recycled for free at the J&C Bottle Depot in Penticton, the T-2 Bottle Depot in Oliver and the Osoyoos Bottle Depot.

The Campbell Mountain Landfill, Oliver and Keremeos Landfills can also accept lighting equipment free of charge.

For more information visit lightrecycle.ca.

Several communities offer Christmas tree collection or drop off programs:

For a donation, the Penticton Fire Fighters Local 1399 will pick up trees from Dec. 27 to Jan. 18. All donations received will go to the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund and Muscular Dystrophy charities.

Penticton and West Bench residents can call 250- 490-2315 to register for collection. Residents can also drop off clean, natural trees at Fire Hall #2 at 285 Dawson Ave from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31.

District of Summerland residents can call the fire hall at 250-404-4088 or e-mail [email protected] to request collection of their trees.

For a donation, Summerland Secondary students will be collecting trees on Sunday, Jan. 3 and Sunday, Jan. 10. Donations go to the Summerland Secondary Dry Grad.

Oliver residents can drop off trees at the south gate of the Oliver Public Works Yard at 5971 Sawmill Rd.

This service will run from Dec. 26 to Friday, Jan. 8. This program is supported by the local Air Cadets.

Osoyoos residents can drop off trees adjacent to the washroom at Kinsmen Park (on boulevard) or at the northwest corner of the parking lot below Sun Bowl Arena sign until Monday, Jan.11.

In Naramata, trees will be collected the week of Jan.18.

If you live in Naramata and would like your tree picked up by volunteers, ensure it is clean of fake snow, tinsel and ornaments and place it curbside.

Advise Craig Henderson that you wish to have your tree picked up, 250-496-5222 or [email protected].

All landfills in the regional district will accept, free of charge, up to 500 kg (1,100 lbs) of yard waste including clean, natural trees.

Trees must be free of tinsel, fake snow, ornaments and lights. The trees will be chipped and given new life as animal bedding or compost

Burning trees creates strong smoke due to moisture in the wood and needles. Fine particulates from smoke have been linked to respiratory and heart diseases.

Any tinsel, fake snow or ornaments left on the tree will create added pollution.

Contact the RDOS Solid Waste Department at 250-490-4129, toll free 1-877-610-3737 ext. 4129, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.rdos.bc.ca for more information.