KEEPS THE TREES GREEN

Christmas is near and if you haven’t put up your tree yet, let me offer a little green advice: purchase a living tree. Around my neighborhood, I have noticed several pine trees in pots. It is exciting to see that people have taken care of their living Christmas trees and will use them again this season. Mid-City Nursery offers a variety of beautiful trees. Conical shaped trees include Alberta spruce, Colorado spruce, Deodar cedar, and redwood.

Living Christmas trees require two quarts to one gallon of water every day and can stay indoors for about a week. To protect the tree from drying out, it is best to place it in a cool area away from heater vents and use miniature lights. When the tree is ready to be taken outside, place it in a 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. If you opt for a cut tree, you have three ways to recycle it.

First, let me remind you to water your cut tree because dried-out trees are a fire hazard. Keeping your tree watered will make your tree look better. Each year, trees come to VALCORE that have never received a drop of water as evidenced by the original wooden stands that are still attached. Vallejo’s Treecycle program is in its eighteenth season. Six local nonprofit groups will be picking up trees on three weekends starting December 29. This year’s list includes the Cub Scout Pack 118, Boy Scout Troop 64, Boy Scout Troop 77, Venture Crew 222, A2A Color Guard, and House of Acts. The groups are requesting a $5 donation and ask that you remove the stand, tinsel, lights, and ornaments from your tree. Watch for flyers in your neighborhood and the Treecycle ad in this paper. This year, groups can add an email address to their flyer to make it easier for people to make appointments for pick ups.

Flocked trees are a big concern. Flocked trees are picked up by the groups listed above, but they are not recycled, they are put into the garbage. Flocked trees are disposed as waste because the material used to flock the trees may pose a health threat when the trees are chipped. VALCORE Recycling will accept trees from December 27 to January 12. They are open Monday through Saturday between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and close from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch. Flocked trees are not accepted.

Vallejo Garbage Service will accept Christmas trees at their 2021 Broadway site on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until January 12. Vallejo residents do not need a yard waste voucher for this service. Flocked trees are not accepted. Christmas trees can go in your curbside yard waste. These trees must be cut up and placed in your new curbside toter. Flocked trees are not accepted. For information, call 552-3110.

For Unincorporated Vallejo residents, Christmas trees will be collected with your yard waste. Cut in half and place inside or next to your yard waste toter. The lid must close. Please call Vacaville Sanitary Service at 678-4026 for information. Information for Treecycle in other Solano County cities can be found on the county recycling web site: www.recycle-guide.com.

WANTED: Vallejo’s Best Recyclers

Vallejo has launched its second Recycling Rewards program. Residents, businesses and apartment complex owners can register to have a surprise inspection of their toters. If the garbage toter is free of recyclable items they will get a year of free recycling and trash services. For more details call Vallejo’s Recycling Coordinator Derek Crutchfield at 648-5346.

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