Recycled Christmas Trees to Help State Fish

By Veronica Nett

veronican@wvgazette.com

Christmas and New Year’s have come and gone, and it’s time to get rid of that once-fresh pine tree.

The state Department of Environmental Protection provided Charleston residents with a means for doing that on Saturday that benefits the state’s lakes and fish at the same time.

Throughout the day, residents could drop off their Christmas trees at Capitol Market. The trees would be given to the state Division of Natural Resources, which will deposit them in lakes and ponds, creating natural habitats for fish.

By forming natural reefs, the trees provide protected areas where fish can spawn, said Jim Hill, state recycling coordinator at the DEP.

“It helps the environment and it keeps people from throwing their trees over a hill,” he said.

The DEP has been collecting old Christmas trees for about 10 years, Hill said. Typically, it collects about 250 to 300, he said.

In past years, the collection lasted two days, but this year it took place only on Saturday.

Though volunteers won’t be at Capitol Market to help, residents can drop off trees today in the part of the market where farmers normally set up produce stands during the summer, Hill said.

Those who dropped off trees Saturday were eligible to enter in a drawing to win ski packages to Timberline and Canaan Valley and a $25 gift certificate to Capitol Market.

“We’re making sure trees are disposed of properly, and we’re helping to keep the state clean and promote environmental stability,” Hill said.

The tree collection project is part of the state’s Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan.

The rehabilitation group supports and works on a number of projects throughout the state, including litter control grant programs, and developing recycling literature and promotional events.

For more information about REAP, call 926-0499 ext. 1359.

To contact staff writer Veronica Nett, use e-mail or call 348- 5113.

(c) 2008 Sunday Gazette – Mail; Charleston, W.V.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.