Now that the Christmas presents are unwrapped and the food's been eaten, it's time to tackle that tree in the middle of the living room.
In the Tri-Cities, there are a few places to recycle your tinsel- and decoration-free tree and some community groups are willing to chip it for a small donation to their cause.
Below, a list of who's helping out, and when and where:
COQUITLAM
• Kinsmen Club and 1st Kinsmen Scout Group: Jan. 7, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Jan. 8, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Town Centre Stadium Parking Lot B;
• Scouts francophone de Maillardville: Jan. 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Canadian Tire parking lot (1200 Seguin Dr.);
• Friends of Mundy Park Heritage Society: Jan. 7 and 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mundy Park gravel lot (off Hillcrest Avenue);
• Kinsmen Club and Centennial music department: Jan. 8, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Dogwood Pavilion (1655 Winslow Ave.);
Real Christmas trees can also be put in the green bin for curbside pickup — as long as the lid is completely closed and the tree is cut into one-metre lengths.
Whole and cut trees can also be dropped off at the Coquitlam Transfer Station (1200 United Blvd.). For more details, call the RCBC recycling hotline at 604-732-9253, the compost hotline at 604-736-2250 or the city's engineering and public works customer service line at 604-927-3500.
PORT COQUITLAM
• Art Knapp Plantland: Jan. 3 to Jan. 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the store (1300 Dominion Ave.). Minimum donation of $5 to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. This event is sponsored by The Tri-City News. Call 604-942-7518.
• Port Coquitlam Firefighters Local 1941: Jan. 7 and 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at fire hall #1 (1725 Broadway St.) with a minimum $5 donation for the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund. Alternatively, call 604-927-5405 to arrange for a tree pick-up for a minimum $10 donation.
PORT MOODY
• Port Moody Firefighters Local 2399: Jan. 7 and 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Inlet Centre firehall (150 Newport Dr.). Minimum $5 donation with proceeds for the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund. Coffee, hot chocolate and vehicle vacuuming also available. Call 604-469-7795.
Meanwhile, you can drop off your leftover holiday wrapping — i.e., boxes, wrapping paper, Styrofoam, packaging and plastic film — at Heritage Mountain Community Centre, Westhill Park or Kyle Centre on Jan. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 604-469-4500.
