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Press Release
‘Tis the Season to be Green and Recycle Your Tree!
Waste Management offers free Christmas Tree Recycling
Inland Empire, CA, December 22, 2008 - Christmas trees have a second life, thanks to Waste Management of the Inland Empire’s Christmas Tree Recycling Program.
The program runs from December 26, 2008 until January 9, 2009, in the communities of Banning, Beaumont, Chino, Corona, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Norco, Menifee, Wildomar and parts of Riverside County. Between these dates, residents may leave their tree at the curb on their regular scheduled pick up date next to their waste containers. Waste Management will collect and recycle the trees.
The free service is part of a larger effort to minimize the amount of waste associated with the holidays. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, over 33 million real Christmas trees are sold in North America every year and Christmas tree recycling helps return a renewable resource back to the environment.
“Most people don’t realize that, as a nation, we generate about 5 million additional tons of trash during the holiday period between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, compared to any other time of the year,” said Steve Kanow, Director of Operations for Waste Management of the Inland Empire. “Locally, recycled trees will have a second life as mulch for gardens and fuel for electricity.”
“In fact, every year, more than 40,000 tons of Christmas trees require handling at the end of the holiday season in California,” Kanow added. “If you have a ‘real’ tree in your home, please use our service to recycle it after the holiday.
Residents are asked to remove any plastic or metal stands, lights, tinsel or ornaments from the tree before placing them outside. Trees that still have these types of decorations will not be picked up or recycled. Also, trees must be no more than 6 feet in length for pick up. Trees taller than 6 feet must be cut down into 6-foot sections.
As a reminder, trash and recycling services will be delayed one day due to the Christmas and New Year’s holiday. For example, if your regular service day is scheduled for Friday, then service will be on Saturday.
Waste Management’s El Sobrante Landfill is located in the unincorporated area of Riverside County. The landfill serves more than one million Inland Empire residents and is a critical component of Riverside County and the greater Los Angeles region’s infrastructure. The site has more than XXX acres in permanent preservation and is a critical component of preserving open space in Riverside County. For more information on the landfill, please go to www.keepinginlandempireclean.com.
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