
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 29, 1993                   TAG: 9312290098
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

HERE'S HOW TO GET RID OF YOUR TREE

Sooner or later, the Christmas tree has got to go. In some homes, it's already gone. In others, getting rid of the tree is undertaken only reluctantly, sometimes weeks or months after the gifts it sheltered have been dispersed.

Once it's down, the tree's disposal can pose a problem, but several New River Valley localities are offering to help.

If you have a live Christmas tree you don't want anymore, the Blacksburg or Christiansburg parks and recreation departments will be happy to have it. They'll use the discarded live trees to beautify local parks. To schedule a convenient pick-up time in Blacksburg call Dean Crane, 961-1133. In Christiansburg, call Art Price, 382-2349.

Montgomery County, Blacksburg and Christiansburg are cooperating in the Christmas tree recycling effort. Trees will be ground into mulch, which is on sale at the landfill for $15 a ton.

Montgomery county residents can bring their trees and holiday greenery to any green box waste collection center. Trees should be placed to the side of the dumpsters so they don't block access.

In Blacksburg and Christiansburg, trees and greenery will be picked up. Put them out at the curb during the week of Jan. 3. no later than 8 a.m. on your regular trash collection day.

Pulaski County will collect Christmas trees through January. The county also plans to recycle the trees for mulch. Trees will be collected separately from regular household trash or other pickups.

Radford will pick up discarded Christmas trees Jan. 3-14. Residents should place trees and greenery where they normally leave their trash. The Recycling Center on 17th Street also will accept trees Jan. 8 and Jan. 9, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Trees will be mulched and you can take some home if you'd like.

Dublin will start picking up trees for recycling starting Thursday. Town crews will complete the job during the first couple of weeks of January.

Before dumping your tree, remove all decorations and tinsel. Wreath greenery should be removed from the wire frame.

For more information on Christmas tree disposal call:

\ Montgomery County: 382-5793.

\ Blacksburg: 961-1851.

\ Christiansburg: 382-6128.

\ Pulaski County: 980-7708.

\ Dublin: 674-5791.

\ Radford: 731-3607.

by CNB