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Getting rid of the tree? Recycle it!

From Staff Reports

news@hickoryrecord.com

Published: December 23, 2009

Newton - Wondering what you'll do with your Christmas trees and other natural decorations after the holiday season is over? Catawba County's Landfill staff, in cooperation with Garbage Disposal Service, has an answer for you. Christmas trees and other natural decorations will be collected at all five Convenience Centers in the county from Dec. 26 through Jan. 31 and at curbsides from Jan.12 to 23.
No ornaments, bases or other decorations should be left on trees.
"If you have regular curbside solid waste collection, you may put your used Christmas tree out on the day of your regular garbage pickup from Jan. 12 through Jan. 23, 2010, and a separate truck will come to recycle the tree," said Amanda Kain, Catawba County's Waste Reduction coordinator.
"Since GDS will collect trees at the curbside from January12 through 23, residents should have two opportunities for GDS to pick up trees on their regularly scheduled garbage pick-up day."
Christmas trees and other natural decorations will be accepted at the County Convenience Centers only between Dec. 26 and Jan. 31. Some municipalities in Catawba County are handling tree pickup separately within their boundaries, so residents of municipalities should check with the government office in their city or town to be sure of the schedule and procedure they should use.
"Since Jan. 1, 1993, it is illegal under North Carolina law to dispose of yard waste in a sanitary landfill," said Barry Edwards, Catawba County Director of Utilities and Engineering. "Christmas trees are defined as yard waste, so they may not be disposed of in regular trash containers at any of the County's Convenience Centers."
"All collected trees are recycled to make compost and mulch," Kain said. "The mulch and compost is available to Catawba County citizens at the Blackburn Landfill Construction & Demolition site. Mulch is available for $10.33 per yard, with a three-yard minimum purchase which costs $31, or for $24 per ton. Compost is available for $15.16 per yard, with a three-yard minimum purchase which costs $45.50, or $35 per ton. There are no mulch or compost sales on Wednesdays," she said.
The County's five convenience centers are on Rocky Ford Road off N.C. 10 west of Newton (across from the Blackburn Landfill); Lookout Dam Road in the Oxford community; Sherrills Ford Road; Bethany Church Road; and in the Cooksville community on Rhoney Farm Road.
The Blackburn Convenience Center is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Oxford and Sherrills Ford Centers operate Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Bethany Church Road Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Cooksville Center is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
All five convenience centers will be closed on Christmas Day.
The Blackburn Sanitary Landfill will close at 1 p.m. on Thursday. It will be also be closed Christmas Day, but will operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Blackburn Construction and Demolition Landfill will be closed today through Friday. GDS will be closed and not operating on Christmas Day.
Garbage service normally provided on Friday will be provided on Saturday. All GDS routes will run on a normal schedule on New Year's Day, however the GDS office will be closed.
For more information, call Kain at 465-8217.