Discarded Christmas trees can go to the curb and end up in a landfill, just taking up space, or they can be recycled, their chips added to mulch that will contribute to the local ecosystem.
Thanks to project founders Jennifer Molski, Tony Manos and a host of volunteers, the choice is an easy one in the H-F area.
For the eighth year, the HF Christmas Tree and Holiday Lights Program will be accepting trees and unwanted strings of holiday lights so that they can be recycled.
The project has recycled an estimated 4,300 trees the past seven years, according to the project website.
Trees can be dropped off any time between Tuesday, Dec. 26, and Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Irons Oaks Environmental Education Center parking lot on Vollmer Road just west of Western Avenue. Volunteers will be on hand to help remove trees from vehicles from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 6.
Trees should be completely bare, with no ornaments, tinsel, plastic bags, wire or lights attached. No wreaths or garland can be accepted.
Holiday lights recycling started Nov. 20 and continues through Jan. 18. Lights can be dropped off at Flossmoor Village Hall, 2800 Flossmoor Road; the H-F Ice Arena, 777 Kedzie, Flossmoor; the H-F Racquet & Fitness Club, 2920 W. 183rd St., Homewood; Irons Oaks, 20000 Western Ave., Olympia Fields; Marie Irwin Community Center, 18120 Highland Ave., Homewood; and Wiley’s Grill, 800 Kedzie Ave., Flossmoor.
More information is available at www.hfchristmastreerecycling.com.