It is the season to be jolly, eat, have fun and recycle your Christmas tree.  Keep your  up till the beginning of January so you can recycle your Christmas tree for wetlands restoration. The National Christmas Tree Association estimates that the United States sells between 25 and 30 million real Christmas trees each year. The good news is that 93% of the consumers who have real Christmas trees recycle them in some type of community program

Louisiana for the past 25 years has been losing wetlands at an alarming rate of 16.57 square miles a year. With the loss of funding from the state's budget in 1991, the program has been continued by some parishes on their own dime. The City of New Orleans’ office of Resilience and Sustainability funds the city’s Christmas Tree recycling Program. The program is a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Army national Guard. This program recycles the trees and educates the public of the plight of our wetlands and their importance.   The construction of a Christmas barrier   helps limit the impact of wave action and prevent erosion. Branches and leaves of trees help keep sediment in place like sea oats on beaches. 

For over twenty-five years, the New Orleans Christmas Tree Recycling Program has contributed to the restoration of Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge. Besides protecting the wetlands these trees are kept out of the landfill. Samantha Carter, Outreach Manager, Gulf Program, National Wildlife Federation  stated, this is a great way for communities to get involved in restoring the coast while protecting and restoring our natural resources and defenses.

To Volunteer

• Volunteers, 18 years or older are needed to put trees along the coastal areas
• It is recommended that you wear layered clothing, long pants, closed-toe sturdy shoes, hats, sunscreen, and gloves.
• Dates of pick-up will be scheduled closer to the holidays and broadcast on television, on the internet and in the local newspaper.  Trees must be natural and striped of all ornaments, tinsel, light and tree stand.

                     Contact 504-658-4071 for additional information

 Happy Holidays,

Marigny Green

Resource:  https://nola.gov/next/resilience-sustainability/programs/christmas-tree-recycling/