There are a plethora of opportunities around the Tri-Cities to recycle trees for a good cause.
Photograph by: NOW , file
It's the centrepiece of the holiday season in most homes, but with a new year on the way, residents will inevitably look to get rid of their Christmas trees.
As officials with Coquitlam Fire & Rescue note, it can take just seconds for a tree to burn, and just minutes for the inferno to engulf an entire room.
"It's not a slow-burning fire. You get a huge fire load within 10 to 30 seconds," said fire chief Tony Delmonico. "If you notice it getting dry, then maybe it's time they dispose of the trees."
Fortunately, there are a plethora of opportunities around the Tri-Cities to recycle trees for a good cause.
In Coquitlam, the Kinsmen Club and 1st Kinsmen Scout Group will take to the Town Centre Stadium parking lot on Jan. 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Kinsmen will also team up with Centennial Secondary's music department on Jan. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the school.
The Friends of Mundy Park Heritage Society's event runs Jan. 5 and 6 at the Mundy Park gravel lot off Hillcrest Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Scouts Francophones de Maillardville will offer their services from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 5 at the Canadian Tire on Seguin Drive.
In Port Moody, firefighters will chip trees by donation on Jan. 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fire Hall No. 1. Every 30 minutes, they will offer tree-burning demos to show just how quickly a tree can go up in flames. Trees are chipped by donation, and all proceeds go to the Children's Burn Fund.
PoCo residents have a few options for their trees: they can either chop it up and put it in their green cart, or chip it at a local event. For those who want to see the green giant taken down a notch without doing the dirty work, trees can be taken to the No.1 Fire Hall on Broadway Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 5 and 6 for a minimum $5 donation to the BC Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund.
Residents can also call 604-927-5405 to arrange for a pickup (for a minimum $10 donation). Firefighters donate their time for this event and all wood chips created are used in city parks and on trails.
Art Knapp Plantland & Florist will also accept trees from Jan. 2 to 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each $5 donation goes towards juvenile diabetes research.
