Natural Christmas trees can be dropped off to be given new life as compost and animal bedding.
Several communities in the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen are collecting clean natural Christmas trees for chipping.
In Summerland, residents can call the Fire Hall at 250-494-7211 ext. 3 to request collection of their Christmas trees. Students from Summerland Secondary will be out collecting trees on Sunday, Jan. 8 and Sunday, Jan. 15.
Donations for this service will go to the Summerland Secondary Dry Grad.
All landfills in the RDOS will accept clean real Christmas trees free of charge. Landfills can accept, free of charge, up to 500 kilograms per load of yard or clean wood waste. Landfills within the RDOS include Campbell Mountain (Penticton), Summerland, Osoyoos, Oliver, Princeton, Keremeos and Okanagan Falls.
The RDOS does not recommend burning Christmas trees because they are too moist to burn cleanly.
Any tinsel, fake snow or ornaments left on the tree will create added pollution.
Fine particulates from smoke have been linked to respiratory and heart diseases.
If you have any questions, contact the RDOS Solid Waste Department at 250-490-4129, toll free 1-877-610-3737 ext. 4129.
You can e-mail info@rdos.bc.ca or visit www.rdos.bc.ca.