Natural or artificial; cut or live: these are the questions when it comes to picking a tree during the holiday season. There’s nothing like the smell of a live or cut tree in your home during the yuletide, but is what is the best option environmentally?
Chop up your tree and put it in the compost bin or take it to one of the local Christmas tree chipping events.
A 15-year tradition continues in Oak Bay this post holiday as the Castaway Wanderers Rugby Football Club offer tree chipping.
The rugby club, that plays out of Windsor Park and has for a century, has players of all ages and funds raised by the tree chipping supports their programs.
Tree chipping runs Dec. 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Jan. 1 from noon to 4 p.m. and Jan. 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the corner of Newport and Currie roads in Oak Bay.
McKenzie Elementary School, with Bartlett Tree Experts, hosts its annual Christmas Tree Chipping Fundraiser, by donation, with all proceeds going to the creation of an Outdoor Learning Space. Tree pick up is available by request within 3 km, (email tracylee16@hotmail.com to make arrangements.) The recycling runs Jan. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the school, 4005 Raymond St. in Saanich.
Sidney Lions Club hosts its annual Christmas Tree Shredding in Iroquois Park, at the corner of Fifth Street and Ocean Boulevard on Jan. 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations accepted and appreciated
Recycle your Christmas tree at Braefoot. Funds raised through the annual Braefoot Community Association event supports low-cost summer camp programs. Recycle trees Dec. 29 to 30 and Jan. 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Dec. 31 from 9 a.m. to noon at Braefoot Park, 1359 McKenzie Ave.
Bring your Xmas trees, and unwanted beverage containers to Lansdowne Middle School’s tree-chipping fundraiser. Sunday, Jan. 6, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 pm. at 1765 Lansdowne Rd. Lansdowne Grade 8 Silver Team students are working hard to raise funds for their year-end trip to Camp Thunderbird. Chipping is by donation.
The Easter Seals and BC Lions Clubs’ annual Christmas Tree Recycling event – Chip In For The Kids – runs Jan. 5 and 6. For a donation to Easter Seals, volunteers from Lion and Lioness Clubs, Davey Tree Services, Western Island Tree Service and Competition Tree Service dispose of your Christmas tree in an environmentally-friendly manner at nine locations in Victoria, Sooke, Shawnigan Lake, Chemainus and Duncan.
Drop off in Victoria at Broadmead Village Shopping Centre; Save-On-Foods at Fort & Foul Bay; Tillicum Shopping Centre; University Heights Shopping Centre and Westshore Town Centre.
For a minimum donation of $20, an Easter Seals volunteer will pick up your tree in the Greater Victoria area. Learn more or book a pickup (until Jan. 1 ) at www.eastersealsbcy.ca.
Do you do post-holiday tree recycling as a fundraiser? Let us know, email vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca.
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