HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-20-2007 Christmas tree pickup & recycling in South Bend 4 �
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Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
Thursday, December 20, 2007 10:00 AM
Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications &Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
Sam Hensley, Director of Streets, 235-9244
Christmas tree pickup & recycling in South Bend
Your old Christmas tree can be a gift to the environment, and now it's even more convenient!
As part of Mayor Luecke's Clean City initiative, the City is working with residents to help recycle
Christmas trees this year. Residents can drop off their natural Christmas trees at three designated City
parks Wednesday, December 26, 2006 through Sunday, January 18.
As always, curbside pickup will be available on a call-in basis beginning Dec. 26, and
automatic curbside pickup will begin on Jan. 7, 2008.
The City collects discarded, natural Christmas trees to be recycled at Organic Resources. The
trees are recycled into high quality mulch which is provided for free to South Bend residents, as part of
our efforts to be good environmental stewards.
Christmas Tree Recycling Options:
DROP-OFF:
• Locations: In order to make tree recycling as convenient as possible for South Bend residents, the
City is designating the following parks as drop-off locations for natural Christmas trees ONLY
from Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007 to Friday, Jan. 18, 2008, from 7 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week.
Signs will be posted in the parks to direct residents to the designated drop-off points.
- Rum Village Park—Ewing Ave. at Gertrude St.
- Pinhook Park— 2800 Block of Riverside Dr.
- Veterans' Memorial Park—Twyckenham at Northside Blvd.
Please Note: Drop off is for Christmas trees ONLY—no trash is permitted under any
circumstances! Placing of any items other than Christmas trees is a ticketable offense under the
South Bend Municipal Code.
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CURBSIDE PICKUP:
• Call-in pickup will begin on Wednesday, Dec. 26. The number to call for pickup is 235-9244.
• Automatic pickup will begin on Monday, Jan. 7, beginning in the northeast quadrant and working
clockwise around the City, for one week. At this time, call-in will not be necessary.
IMPORTANT CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING SAFETY TIPS!
Residents are asked to follow these guidelines for safe and efficient tree recycling:
• All trees for curbside pickup should be placed on the tree lawn, near the curb, by 6:00 AM. Do not
place trees in the street or in alleys.
• Please remove all lights, ornaments, and metal, including tree stands or nails, before
discarding Christmas trees. Items left on trees can injure employees or seriously damage the tree
shredding equipment, leaving it inoperable.
• Artificial trees and trees including any metal, glass, or wire, will NOT be collected and will be the
owner's responsibility to dispose.
Crews will work 24 hours per day, five days per week, weather permitting. In the event of
snow, plowing will take precedence.
The Division of Street's strategic approach to Christmas tree collection and recycling is
designed for labor efficiency and cost effectiveness. Trees are shredded as they are collected. Four to
five trucks are assigned to one area with a central chipping machine. Each truck load contains
approximately 300 shredded trees! Shredding trees onsite is one of many ways the City is working to
reduce labor and fuel costs, while still providing a high level of services to its residents.
For further information on Christmas tree pickup, please call the Street Dept. at 235-9244.
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