In what might be the biggest holiday recycling effort of the year, Pasco County officials are asking residents to recycle Christmas trees by bringing home to one of several locations between Dec. 26 and Jan. 7.
“I have copies of old news articles going back to Dec. 28, 1995, that indicate this was a recycling tradition for at least five years before that date,” said Jennifer Seney, Pasco’s recycling coordinator, in a release. “We recycled 1,330 Christmas trees in 2013.”
Trees brought to the drop-off points will be chipped and made into mulch for landscaping purposes, officials said. It’s asked that those bringing trees remove all tinsel, metal hooks and decorations before bringing them to a station.
Locations east of the Suncoast Parkway include:
• John S. Burks Memorial Park, 1322 Gene Nelson Blvd., in Dade City
• Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes
• Sam W. Pasco Recreational Complex, 9835 Chancey Road in Zephyrhills
• Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel
“Trees are chipped and made into mulch for many different uses, like covering hiking paths, weed control and landscaping accents,” Seney said.
Also, decaying trees can make a strong wildlife habitat if used in a brush pile, she said. “Of course, this only works where the homeowner has the space and time to let nature take its course.”
Questions or requests for information can be directed to Pasco County Recycling at (727) 856-4539, or by visiting PascoCountyUtilities.com.
