First, they held baubles and presents. Now, they'll play host to tiny fish.
Christmas trees dropped off at recycling centers throughout the county will be sunk in area lakes and waterways to make habitats for juvenile fish.
The program--sponsored by Riverside County Waste Management Department and California Department of Fish and Game--was designed to protect the scaly creatures from bigger predators and and save space in landfills, according to a county news release.
Trees collected at Badlands Landfill, 31125 Ironwood Ave., Moreno Valley, and Lamb Canyon Landfill, 16411 Lamb Canyon Road, Beaumont, will be processed and prepared for the program. The trees must be stripped of all deocrations, tinsel and stands before they're dropped off.
Conifers dropped off at other free sites or outside homes at the curb will be recylced into compost or mulch at green waste processing locations, according to the release.
Trees are collected through curbside pickup for two weeks following Christmas. They should be placed next to residents' green recycling containers on regular pick-up days and should be chopped in half if taller than 4 feet.
Free recycling locations in southwest Riverside County include A. Lua Wood Recyling, 18938 Mermack Ave., Lake Elsinore, and B.P. John Recycling, 28700 Mathews Road, Romoland. The centers will accept up to three trees per family for the next two weeks.
