The just under 20 tonnes of Christmas trees that were put out on residential curbs for pick up or left at the temporary grass and leaf drop off station were chopped by Fortis Alberta and ASPLUNDH for the town of Okotoks at the beginning of February.

Waste Services Manager, Paul Lyons, says that the chopped up trees are a green initiative.

"The mulch is currently sent to the compost part of the Foothills Regional Landfill and is used as apart of their compost operation," Lyons said.

Lyons says that Fortis Alberta and ASPLUNDH volunteer to cut up the trees so that this initiative is free.

"If the trees weren't chipped then they would end up in the landfill as regular garbage."

However a hazard of the program is the trees being put in plastic bags or having metal in the trees.

These are materials that can not be recycled or cut up with the trees.

"As you support these initiatives, be mindful of what is left on the trees," Lyons said.

Lyons wants to thank Fortis Alberta and ASPLUNDH for all their hard work and for helping make our community greener. 

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