The McMinnville Public Works Department has set up a Christmas tree drop off at the Milner Center parking lot.
The area is marked with cones, and citizens can drive up and and drop off their tree. The trees must have all lights and decorations removed from them. Public Works’ Lyndon Bussell said there are improper ways to dispose of Christmas trees.
“You know, you leave it out in your yard that’s going to lead to rodents or other kinds of critters that could find a home in there and what not,” Bussell said. “So the best possible way for these Christmas trees are to either bring them to the Milner’s Center where we can haul them off and chip them or leave them next to your mailbox or trashcan.”
Public Works will be collecting trees from the Milner Center parking lot for the next two weeks. Citizens can also leave their trees at the side of the road for brush pick up if they cannot get to the drop off area.
“It’s just important so people have a place to put them,” Bussell said. “People don’t just want to drag it to the road and let it sit there for days on end.”
Bussell said they have used the old Christmas trees in creative ways in the past.
“In the past, years ago, we actual used them for fish habitats,” Bussell said. “Way back, way back, probably about ten years ago, we used them for fish habitats, but now we chip them and reuse them.”
They now recycle the trees by putting them through a wood chipper and using them as mulch in different areas in the downtown area. Bussell said it is like giving your tree a second life.
“It’s the gift that keeps on giving. We get the trees, we get to chip them and we get to use them,” Bussell said. “It’s just a nice little thing that we do.”
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