O Christmas tree: Thunder Bay recycling program begins Boxing Day

After serving its purpose for another year, now might be the time to start thinking about recycling your Christmas tree.

Thunder Bay'stree drop-off sites opened on Boxing Day.

"One of the good things about getting a natural Christmas tree is it's recyclable," saysJasonSherband, manager ofThunder Bay's solid waste and recycling services division.

Afterthe lights, tinsel and decorations have been removed, you can take your tree to one of nine drop-off locations. The trees will then betrucked to the Mapleward Road Solid Waste and Recycling facilityand mixed in with the leaf and yard waste from curbside collections in the spring and fall, he said.

It's all ground up and turned into soil-enriching compost which isgiven away, forfree, to residents in the spring, said Sherband.

"I always like to say, with this program, it's really a true form of recycling in that we get to see the end product in the finished compost and it stays here locally in the community," said Sherband.

The drop-off sites are open until January 11, 2017.Trees cannot be put out for curbside collection, or left at recycling depots.

The drop-off locations are scattered around the city.

NORTH

• Brent Park (Balsam at Margaret)
• County Park Tennis Courts (County Blvd.)
• Grandview Arena (Madeline Street) between Grandview Arena & Westminster United Church - not in arena parking lot
• John Jumbo Recreation Centre (Toivo St)
• Strathcona Golf Course

SOUTH

• Delaney Arena (Legion Track Dr)
• Kinsmen Northwood Centre (609 James St N)
• Westfort Playing Field (off Neebing Ave)
• West Thunder Community Centre (915 S Edward St)

Each year between 30 to 40 metric tons of Christmas trees are recycled in Thunder Bay.