Time to recycle Yule trees

12/30/2006

It's out with the old year and in with the new tomorrow night.

For many people who adorned their homes with a live Christmas tree this holiday season, it also may be time to throw out that pine, blue spruce, or Fraser fir.

If it isn't taking water, is very dried out, and is dropping needles like a golden retriever sheds hair, fire officials warn it is probably time to consider taking your holiday tree out of the house because it could become a fire hazard.

Regardless of when you take the tree out, Christmas trees make good recycling mulch. Residents of northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan have a variety of opportunities to recycle those "tannenbaums" so that their usefulness can continue.

Many Toledo area communities offer curbside tree pickup. But before hauling your tree to the street, recycling officials in area counties asked The Blade to remind donors that all decorations and tinsel must be removed.

In addition, those who plan to recycle live wreaths and roping must make sure all metal and wire are removed because they can damage chipper/mulching machines.

Anyone who is unsure all the metal or wiring is removed or who cannot remove it should put the materials in the garbage for pickup.

Some counties ask recyclers to take their trees to a central disposal location for mulching and reuse.

Here is a rundown by county and community of Christmas tree recycling opportunities:

Lucas County

Curbside tree pickup will occur on normal trash collection days during the early part of January in Toledo, Oregon, Waterville, and Whitehouse.

Oregon residents have the additional option of taking their trees to the city's street department, situated behind the municipal building at 5330 Seaman Rd., for officials to chip it.

In Sylvania and Maumee, there will be curbside tree collection Jan. 2 through Jan. 5 and Jan. 8 through Jan. 12.

Residents are asked to place their trees at their curbs as close to Jan. 2 as possible to ensure pickup.

Additionally, Lucas County residents can drop off their trees at Clean Wood Recycling Inc., 6505 West Bancroft St., or Kurtz Brothers Regional Compost Facility, 5315 Stickney Ave.

Wood County

The Wood County Park District is providing four locations for residents to drop off Christmas trees for recycling.

Trees can be left through

Jan. 6 at the park district headquarters on Mercer Road north of Bowling Green, the W.W. Knight Preserve on East River Road in Perrysburg Township, the south terminus of the Slippery Elm Trail in North Baltimore, or at William Henry Harrison Park in Pemberville.

Perrysburg Township will have curbside tree collection on Jan. 3.

Trees must be left at the curb by 7 a.m.

Residents are reminded that this year there are no return pickups to homes where trees have not been put out and no dropoffs at the township maintenance facility.

The city of Perrysburg will have curbside tree collection Jan. 8 through Jan. 12, although there will be no alley collection for trees.

After Jan. 12, residents may take their trees to the city street division compost site, 205 East Boundary St., from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Ottawa County

Port Clinton crews will offer curbside tree collection the first two weeks of January, and trees may also be taken to the city cemetery.

For Catawba Island Township residents, trees will be collected roadside from Jan. 1 through Jan. 15.

Danbury Township residents may drop off their trees at the township hall on Port Clinton Eastern Road through the end of January.

Erie Township residents can drop off trees at the Old LaCarne School during January.

In Portage Township, trees will be collected curbside on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Salem Township residents may drop off trees any time after Jan. 3 through Jan. 29 at Union Cemetery by the gold building.

Elmore crews will pick up trees curbside starting tomorrow. Trees will be picked up curbside in Marblehead from Jan. 2-15.

Monroe County

From now through Jan. 21 county residents may drop off their trees at the Bedford Township Hall, 9100 Lewis Ave., Temperance; Berlin Charter Township Hall, 8000 Swan View Drive, Newport, Mich.; Ida Township Hall, 3016 Lewis Ave.; and Monroe Charter Township Hall, 4925 West Dunbar Rd.

In Summerfield Township, residents may drop their trees off at 87 Railroad St. in Petersburg, Mich.

Fremont and Clyde residents may place their trees curbside for collection during the first week of January.

Bellevue crews will collect trees at curbside beginning Jan. 1, and residents may also drop off trees at a compost site at the waste-water treatment plant.

Ballville Township residents can drop their trees off during regular brush drop-off hours, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning Jan. 6 at Universal Landscaping.

Residents in the village of Helena may call the mayor at (419) 638-5535 to make arrangements for tree recycling.

Woodville offers tree pickup through Jan. 8, and mulch will be available to residents. Gibsonburg residents may take their trees to the village brush pile from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 13.

Jackson Township will accept trees at the township hall from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. through February.

Sandusky Township residents may drop their trees off at the brush pile at the maintenance shop on Jan. 6.

Tiffin residents can drop off trees at the Public Works building, 601 Miami St., during the first two weeks of January. Trees may also be taken to the brush piles at the water pollution control center from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Liberty Township will accept trees at 4730 N. Co. Rd. 11, Tiffin, through Jan. 31.

Bloomville residents can drop off trees along the driveway of Ray and Janis Weasner, 19 S. Prospect.

Republic residents may place trees curbside for pickup.

Sandusky residents should haul their trees to Barnes Nursery Compost Facility on Camp Road, between Hull and Boos Road.