The Christmas season is waning and many in the Northland are taking down the ornaments and getting the tree out of the house.
But where to go from there.
Lori Seele with Collaborative Invasive Species Management is a proponent of bringing trees to one of many drop-off areas in the Northland. “Lester Park, Woodland Community Club, Duluth Heights, Chester Bowl, Duluth West Tool House, the Rose Garden... those are some locations," says Seele. Drop-off for these Duluth locations is available through January 10th. WLSSD will accept Christmas trees on-site until January 31st. For those in Carlton County, trees will be collected through January 16th.
Bringing a tree to a backyard wooded area might be convenient, but it can have a severely negative impact. "Fresh-cut trees can spread invasive species or disease," says Seele. "[Diseases] hitchhike on trees and other decor and then they get into our parks, and they cause problems in our own yards too."
When appropriately disposed of, the trees will be processed, wood chipped, and ultimately returned to the community as compost. The wood chips are sanitized and free from any disease prior to their use in public spaces.
To learn more and to find drop-off locations, visit the WLSSD website.
