RECAP Events
20/12/2007 - Christmas tree recycling events across Cambridgeshire
Residents are being asked to get into ex-treeme recycling in the New Year by taking part in special Christmas tree shredding events across Cambridgeshire.
The special events, which are designed to keep old Christmas trees ending up in landfill, are being held in Littleport, Huntingdon, Girton, Barrington and Peterborough.
The ‘X-treeme Recycling’ days are being organised by the Cambridgeshire Community Reuse and Recycling Network (CCORRN) and Compost Connections, with support and sponsorship from RECAP – Recycle for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Real Christmas trees are part of the seasonal biodegradable waste that can be recycled. When organic materials such as trees are landfilled, they decompose and generate methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Not only that but the Government taxes every tonne of waste that is put into landfill.
The ‘X-treeme Recycling days’ will run from 11am to 3pm at the following venues across the county:
Saturday 5th January 2008 - Branching Out, 27 Grange Lane, Littleport, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB6 1HW
Sunday 6th January 2008 - Hinchingbrooke Country Park Visitors' Centre
Brampton Road, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 6DB and Peterborough Central Park (10-3pm tree shredding only)
Saturday 12th January 2008 - Girton Glebe School, Cambridge Road, Girton, Cambridge CB3 0PN
Sunday 13th January 2008 - Barrington Village Hall, 63 High Street, Barrington, Cambs, CB22 7QX
People can bring their Christmas trees to be shredded into chippings by machinery from the National Trust’s, Anglesey Abbey property. Members of the public who bring their own bag will also be able to take their chippings home to use in their gardens. Any surplus chippings will be used by the local community. Master Composters will also be on hand to show how easy is to set up compost heaps and share tips on how to reduce waste and improve home-composting techniques.
You can bring along unwanted presents, or items you no longer need, to donate to the Choose2Reuse Green Santa. Choose2Reuse collects unwanted items in good condition and distributes them for sale or reuse by charity and community groups, including furniture reuse schemes. You can also make a pledge to donate reusable goods to charities throughout the year.
The X-treeme recycling days will also feature information about how to reduce waste with local organisations giving information and advice on wider sustainable issues, including energy efficiency. So for a day with a difference packed with information, fun, food and free goodies come along to the event nearest you.
In addition, you can take your trees along to Cherry Hinton Hall car park and leave them by 20th Jan after which they will be collected by Cambridge City Council and composted for use around the city. If you can’t make one of these events, you can still put your tree in with your green waste collection or take it to a Household Recycling Centre to be composted.
Liz Hawkins, Cambridgeshire County Council’s Waste Campaigns Officer said “I love having a real tree in the house over Christmas, and always ensure that it is composted in January. Real trees are more environmentally sound than fake ones, as they absorb carbon dioxide whilst growing, and don’t use finite resources in their production. It’s great that there are opportunities locally to get your tree shredded, this is often easier than trying to compost it at home.”
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