If you are a Hastings resident with a Christmas tree to dispose of, Public Service Department Director Lee Hays said the State Road site will remain open through Jan. 12, 2018 for Christmas tree drop-off. 

Hours for the site are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.;

Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

 

No matter where you live you can recycle the trees, but first there is a best way to get the tree out of the house. To avoid a mess, place a plastic tree bag, available at hardware stores, underneath the stand when you set the tree up, or when you remove it, if necessary. When the holidays are over, pull the bag up around the tree, stand and all, and carry it outside. Remove the stand before recycling the tree, of course. If some needles do scatter inside, it is better to sweep them up; needles can clog vacuum cleaners.

 

Some suggestions for recycling from the National Christmas Tree Association:

* Sink them in private fish ponds for an excellent refuge and feeding area for fish.

 

* Set the tree in the garden or backyard as a bird feeder and sanctuary. Fresh orange slices or strung popcorn will attract birds and they can sit on the branches for shelter. Be sure to remove all hooks, garlands and tinsel strands. Within a year, the branches will become brittle and you can break the tree apart by hand or chip it in the chipper.

 

* If there is a wildlife rehabilitation site nearby, the trees will provide cover for birds, chipmunks, raccoons and other small wild animals, protecting them from predators as well as shielding them in harsh weather.
 

* Christmas trees are biodegradable, so you can remove the branches, chip them and use as mulch in the garden.  

 

* Some communities use shredded trees as a free, renewable and natural path material that fits both the environment and the needs of hikers.