If it’s time to say goodbye to your Christmas tree, there are several Tri-City service groups and city departments that will help you send it back to nature in the new year.
But before you drop them off, the trees must be tinsel- and decoration-free.
COQUITLAM
• Coquitlam Kinsmen will be at Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way) from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 6 and 7.
• Scouts Francophone de Maillardville will recycle your tree from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 6 in the Canadian Tire parking lot (1200 Seguin Dr.).
• Friends of Mundy Park Heritage Society will be at Mundy Park (gravel lot, off Hillcrest Street) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 6 and 7.
• Centennial Music Department teams up with the Kinsmen Club for a fundraiser on Jan. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Centennial secondary school (parking lot off Winslow Avenue).
PORT COQUITLAM
• PoCo firefighters will take in trees for chipping — for a minimum $5 donation to the BC Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund — on Jan. 6 and 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at firehall #1 (1725 Broadway St.). Smoke-eaters will also pick up a tree from your home or business for a minimum $10 donation; call 604-927-5405 to arrange a time. Meanwhile, Styrofoam and old Christmas lights can also be recycled at the firehall for a small fee while the city’s ambassadors will also collect plastic bags, used batteries, small appliances, wrapping paper and packaging.
• Art Knapp Plantland and Florist (1300 Dominion Ave.) will chip trees for gardening and landscaping mulch, from Jan. 2 to 28 — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — for a minimum $5 donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Canada.
PORT MOODY
• The city hosts a centralized recycling day on Jan. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at three locations: Heritage Mountain community centre (200 Panorama Pl.); Westhill Park (203 Westhill Pl.); and Kyle Centre (125 Kyle St.). Paper gift wrap and boxes, Styrofoam, packaging and plastic film will be taken in; however, ribbons, bows and foil gift wrapping won’t be accepted.
• PoMo firefighters with IAFF Local 2399 will accept trees for chipping on Jan. 6 and 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Inlet Centre firehall (150 Newport Dr.) for a minimum $5 donation for the BC Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund. Hot drinks and vehicle vacuuming are also available.
Still, if you don’t want to haul it out, live trees can also be chopped up and placed in the city green carts.
In Coquitlam, trees are to be cut in 1m lengths with a maximum 10cm in diameter — with the lid closed (whole or cut trees can also be dropped off at the Coquitlam transfer station at 1200 United Blvd.). Call the compost hotline at 604-736-2250.
In Port Coquitlam, trees in green carts cannot be bigger than 40 inches long or three inches in diameter.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com

