By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
With the Christmas holiday officially behind us, many people will be disposing of their natural Christmas trees over the next few days.
The Missouri Department of Conservation says there a number of things you can do with your old tree rather than just having it sit in your backyard or on the curb.
MDC Spokesperson Lucas Bond says getting rid of the tree can be kind of a sad reminder that the holiday season is ending.
"But, hey, why not be happy about it?" Bond said. "You can recycle your Christmas tree, give back to nature and just go outside and enjoy the outdoors while doing so."
Trees can be weighted and sunk in ponds and lakes as fish habitat. Or, they can be placed in yards to shelter certain wildlife like rabbits. Trees can also be used for kindling to start fires. Some woodworkers save the trunks of Christmas trees to build outdoor benches and chairs.
The city of St. Joseph will provide a disposal site for trees at the Drake Softball Complex located at 22nd Street and Southwest Parkway.
Residents can dispose of their trees through January 17. The trees will be removed and eventually mulched. Those who drop their tress off here are asked to be sure that all ornaments, tinsel and tree stands have been removed.
While artificial trees have become a popular, if not convenient choice for many people around Christmas, MDC spokesperson Bill Graham says there are benefits to having a real tree.
"Just want to let people know there are other things you can do with your trees besides putting them in the dump or something," he said.
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