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15th annual XMAS Treecycling and battery recycling 
by JANE BOGNER
SUNDAY, December 26, 2004

Christmas is over and while you are sitting there enjoying the opened presents and your lovely decorated Christmas tree, remind yourself to water the tree. If you have your living tree inside, it will drink two to four quarts of water every day. Make sure the tree is in a cool area away from heater vents and keep it indoors only five to seven days. Your cut tree needs water too. Each year, trees come to VALCORE for recycling that still have the wooden stands attached and are tinder dry.

When a living tree is ready to be taken outside, place it in a cool, protected spot for 12 days to allow the tree to acclimate. You can leave your tree in its large pot so that you can use it next year after careful summer feeding and watering. Vallejo’s Treecycle program is in its fifteenth season. Eight local nonprofits groups will be picking up trees on the first two weekends in January. This year’s list includes the St. Vincent Youth Ministries, Cub Scout Pack 12, Cub Scout Pack 118, Boy Scout Troop 64, Boy Scout Troop 77, M.I.T. Academy, Vallejo Soap Box Derby and Venture Crew 222. 

This is a fund-raising event for the groups and they are requesting a $5 donation. Please remove the stand, tinsel, lights, and ornaments from your tree. No flocked trees will be accepted by these groups, at the drop-off sites, or for curbside pickup. Flocked trees were disposed as waste because the material used to flock the trees may pose a health threat to employees when the trees are being chipped. Watch for flyers in your neighborhood and look for the Treecycle ad. Flyers will be available at VALCORE Recycling and City Hall. 

You can view the flyer online at www.recycle-guide.com on the Vallejo page. Derek Crutchfield, Vallejo’s Recycling Coordinator, reported that with the help of the City’s Landscape Maintenance Division, Vallejo was able to divert over 2400 trees from the landfill last year. The chipped trees generated 24 tons of mulch which was used as landscape cover in the Glen Cove area. Participating youth groups raised approximately $7,000 in donations.

The drop-off Treecycle program begins on Monday, December 27 at VALCORE Recycling. We will accept trees Monday through Saturday between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. until January 15. We are closed daily 1p.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch. Vallejo Garbage Service (VGS) will accept Christmas trees at their 2021 Broadway site on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until January 8. VGS will be closed on January 1. Vallejo residents do not need a yard waste voucher for this service. For information, call 552-3110.

Because Christmas and New Years fall on Saturday this year, VGS will maintain regular collection service the week of Dec 20 through 24th and the week of Dec. 27 through 31st. Christmas trees will be collected with your yard waste the week of Dec. 27th and Jan. 3rd. In order to be recycled, Christmas trees must be placed at the curb on your regular yard waste day. If the tree is over 6 feet, it must be cut in half. After January 8, you should place your tree inside your yard waste bin or tie it in bundles no larger than 18 inches by 36 inches for pick up on your assigned yard waste day.

For Unicorporated Vallejo residents, Christmas trees will be collected with your yard waste the week of Dec. 27th and Jan. 3rd. Tree must be cut into 3 foot sections. Please call Vacaville Sanitary Service at 678-4026 for more information. 

Information for all Solano County cities can be found on the county recycling web site: www.recycle-guide.com. Benicia residents can drop off trees at 1st Baptist Church (1055 Southampton Road) on Jan. 2, 8, and 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For pick up call 551-4520. A $5.00 donation is requested. Please remove all ornaments and stands, and no flocked trees will be accepted. 

Household Battery Recycling

If you received gadgets and toys that eat batteries for Christmas, consider changing to rechargeable Nickel metal Hydride (Ni-MH) or
rechargeable alkaline batteries. They are as strong as their disposable cousins and will last for years. Recycle your spent batteries at VALCORE during regular business hours.

Happy New Year and thank you Vallejo for your continued support of our community-run recycling center.

VALCORE Recycling Vice President Jane Bogner's "A Sorted Affair" is published every other week in the Times-Herald, Community Outlook Section. For recycling information call Genie Kaggerud, VALCORE Recycling manager at 645-8258 or visit www.VALCORErecycling.org.

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