By Jill Sperling

Kamloops residents encouraged to recycle their Christmas trees

Dec 31, 2018 | 2:28 PM

KAMLOOPS — The presents have been opened, the decorations are coming down and soon those natural Christmas trees will be removed from peoples’ homes. 

The City of Kamloops is encouraging residents to recycle their trees in order to divert them from the landfill. 

Within the city, there are several locations designated for tree recycling. 

“We do have 12 sites open and available across the community to dispose of your natural Christmas trees,” said Glen Farrow, the city’s Streets and Environmental Services manager. “Ensure all your lights are off, your ornaments are off, any tinsel’s been removed as well.” 

For those unable to bring their trees to the disposal sites themselves, there is another option. 

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“For a minimum $10 donation I’ll pick up your Christmas tree and take it to the recycling (site),” said Ed Lapierre. “One hundred per cent of the donations goes to Kamloops Hospice.”

Lapierre, also known as Ed the Security Guy, will begin picking up Christmas trees starting Jan. 12. 

He’s been helping people dispose of their trees since 2001. 

“It started out as just for even street people I buy groceries for, a jacket or something. Now that it’s progressing, and we’re making some more money it’s Kamloops Hospice,” Lapierre said. “Kamloops Hospice is close to me, my brother passed away there. I like to continue the donation every year for them.”

Lapierre asks that people who want to use his pick-up service call him at (250) 851-1131 or email securityguy@telus.net by Jan. 11, providing and address and information about where they will leave their donation if they aren’t at home. 

“If they’re making cheques out they can make cheques out to Kamloops Hospice and I’ll deliver those as well.”

Once the trees are at one of the disposal sites the city will prepare them to be re-purposed. 

“From those sites that product gets chipped, ground, and wind-rowed, and goes to compost for next year,” Farrow said. 

Around 150,000 trees have been saved from the landfill and turned into compost, providing rich soil for new life in Kamloops parks and gardens.