Every year tons of discarded holiday wrapping paper and trees needlessly make it to county landfills. Much of it can either be reused or recycled, saving Mother Nature hundreds of years trying to break the stuff down. Let’s work together to reduce this year’s holiday carbon footprint.
The Broward County Parks and Recreation Division is committed to recycling through its annual Chip-A-Tree program. The initiative allows Broward County residents to bring holiday trees to a park, where they will be chipped and used for landscaping throughout the park system.
County Parks recycled more than 5,100 trees, representing tons of material that would otherwise have gone to landfills. Instead of tossing their trees in the trash, environmentally-conscious park patrons saved 100 tons from the waste stream. It costs nothing to drop off your tree. That amount accounted for 15 percent of Broward Parks' greenhouse gas reduction efforts for all of 2017.
This season's program runs daily from Wednesday, December 26, 2018, through Monday, January 14, 2019, giving you plenty of time to take advantage of those after-the-holidays sales before hauling your tree to a park. And remember, the regular weekend and holiday gate entrance fee will NOT be in effect for recyclers, so there's no excuse not to do the right thing. Hours vary; call the park of your choice for details. Hours vary; call the park of your choice for details.
Fern Forest Nature Center – 201 Lyons Rd. South, Coconut Creek 33063; 954-357-5198
Tradewinds Park 3600 W. Sample Rd., Coconut Creek 33073; 954-357-8870
RULES:
The free program encourages Broward County residents to remove all decorations from their holiday trees (no decorated trees will be accepted), then bring the trees to a participating park, where they are chipped and used for landscaping throughout the county park system. There is a limit of two trees per vehicle, artificial trees are not accepted, and no commercial vehicles or garbage trucks are allowed. For more information, call 954-357-8177 or email parksmarketing@broward.org
What else is Recyclable?
Wrapping paper and the tubes it comes in are recyclable - so put them in your curbside recycling bins for pickup.
What isn't Recyclable?
Tissue paper isn’t recyclable because it doesn't contain enough fibrous substance, but it can be straightened and used again and again. The same goes for gift bags, which are often too beautiful to throw away. Some gift bags over time become collectibles. Metallic wrapping paper is also non-recyclable.
