Christmas is just around the corner, and while the decorations might be up for while longer yet, many will be soon be thinking about how to get rid of the Christmas tree.
In the UK approximately 250 tonnes of Christmas trees that could have been recycled are simply thrown out. Ogden Water Local Nature Reserve in Halifax is trying to change this by recycling Christmas trees and will be open for people to drop off their trees from Boxing Day until the end of January.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Communities, Cllr Susan Press, said:
“Ogden Water was one of the first places to recycle Christmas trees in this way, and staff and volunteers on site will be happy to take unwanted trees off your hands.
“It’s sad to see trees out with people’s rubbish after Christmas, but by donating old trees to Ogden Water they’re given a new lease of life and will be used to create a habitat for wildlife.”
Ogden Water has been recycling Christmas trees for over 10 years and in the last three years has collecting over 6500 trees– around £200,000 worth – which have been used to help with onsite management. Those with roots will be planted up in various sections of the woodland to add to the diverse range of trees present and those that do not have roots will be used to create a border around the reservoir.
This border prevents anyone from accessing the water – helping to keep people safe while still enjoying the site. It also creates a habitat that is used by birds, mammals insects and plants to breed, grow and develop over the coming year.
Once the trees are collected, there will be a number of community days on Tuesday 9, Tuesday 16, Tuesday 23 and Tuesday 30 January, where volunteers are needed to help staff to prepare the trees and lay them around the reservoir side. If anyone would like to join with these sessions then please get in touch with Calderdale Council’s Countryside Officer, Chris Sutcliffe on 07769 954956.
Christmas trees can be dropped off outside the classroom, opposite the visitor centre until the end of January. Plus, don’t forget that trees can also be recycled at any of the local Household Waste Recycling Centres in Calderdale. These trees will be used to make mulch and improve soils in parks and gardens in the borough.