Christmas Tree Recycling

[gatorback]

So, um, what's Jacksonville, Florida doing with the spent xmas trees this year.  Does the COJ have a recycle program where by the old trees are made into mulch and then given away?  I wonder what other cities are doing that?

[Ocklawaha]

Don't know about Jax this year, but most of Florida has a program where the Scouts pick up the trees to use in Beach retention. Great way to make your Christmas tree count for something good.

Ocklawaha

[gatorback]

I heard about that.  Is the program working...are we winning the war on beach arousion or just dumping trees on the beach?

[Charles Hunter]

Nope.  They discontinued that a few years ago - don't know why.  Now the City wants you to put them by the curb, and they will be taken to the City's Mulch plant on the southside.

If I remember correctly, there was some dispute among environmental groups over whether the tress did good or harm at the beach.

OK - a quick Google, and the first 30 hits on 'christmas tree recycle sand dune' were all positive.  I did not check all the thousands of pages.  So, no telling why Jacksonville discontinued the practice.

[gatorback]

That’s good.  Mulch is great  for saving water.  I hope the city gives the mulch away for free to encourage water conservation…unless the city is in with mulch manufacturers and have covenant not to compete they should (Scratch that --it's just my paranoia showing up.)  The city would never be "in" with anybody.