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<br />Christmas Trees Find New Life at Organic Resources!Page 1of 2 <br />st <br />"Building a 21 Century City " <br />Stephen J. Luecke, Mayor <br />RELEASE FROM:FOR RELEASE: <br />Office of the MayorThursday, December 22, 2005 <br />Christmas Trees Find New Life at Organic Resources! <br />Your old Christmas tree can be a gift to the environment! As part of Mayor Luecke’s Clean City initiative, the <br />City will begin collecting discarded, natural Christmas trees on Tuesday, January 3, on a call-in basis. The <br />number to call for Christmas tree pickup is 235-9244. All trees are recycled at Organic Resources to <br />produce high quality mulch, as part of South Bend’s proactive environmental stewardship. <br />On Monday, January 9, Street Department crews will begin collecting trees without the need to call in. <br />Crews will start in the northeast quadrant of the city and work clockwise around the city. <br />IMPORTANT CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING SAFETY TIPS! <br />Residents are asked to follow these guidelines for safe and efficient tree pickup: <br />• All trees should be placed on the tree lawn, near the curb, by 6:00 AM. Do not place trees in <br />the street or in alleys. <br />• Please remove all lights, ornaments, and metal, including tree stands or nails, before <br />discarding Christmas trees. Items left on trees can injure employees or seriously damage the <br />tree shredding equipment, leaving it inoperable. <br />• Artificial trees and trees including any metal, glass, or wire, will NOT be collected and will be <br />the owner’s responsibility to dispose. <br />Crews will work 24 hours per day, five days per week, weather permitting. In the event of snow, plowing will <br />take precedence. By starting general pickup later, the City hopes to collect more trees in a shorter amount of <br />time, saving personnel and fuel costs. <br />The Division of Street’s strategic approach to Christmas tree collection and recycling is designed for labor <br />efficiency and cost effectiveness. Trees are shredded as they are collected. Four to five trucks are assigned <br />to one area with a central chipping machine. Each truck load contains approximately 300 shredded trees! <br />Shredding trees onsite is one of many ways the City is working to reduce labor and fuel costs, while still <br />providing a high level of services to its residents. <br />Also, as a reminder, residents and business owners are asked, as they shovel sidewalks and drives, to <br />please take a little extra time to clear snow and ice from fire hydrants that are located on or near their <br />property. With the snow already on the ground, additional snow accumulation could obscure hydrants from <br />the view of fire fighters, or block their access. By taking the time to clear hydrants now, valuable time is <br />saved for fire fighters in the event of an emergency. Help your South Bend fire fighters provide our <br />community with the best services possible! <br />Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564 <br />http://www.ci.south-bend.in.us/Press/Releases_2005/122205_ChristmasTrees.htm1/13/2006 <br /> <br />