Christmas trees bring cash for charity
People can recycle their Christmas trees and raise money for charity under a new year initiative.
Shropshire Council's waste contractor, Veolia, has pledged to make a donation to Shropshire Mind for every real Christmas tree it recycles.
The recycled material will then be turned into soil improver.
Tim Walters communications manager for Veolia, explained: “During the first few weeks of January, residents can recycle their real Christmas trees by simply putting them out for collection next to their garden waste bin. And as a way of thanking residents for recycling their real tree, Veolia will make a donation to Mind Shropshire.
“If their tree is more than five feet tall, they just need to cut it into sections to fit into the garden waste bin. All real Christmas trees collected will be ‘recycled’ (sent for composting) and turned into valuable soil improver for local farmers and gardeners.”
Kerbside
Last year, more than 4,000 real trees were recycled by Shropshire residents both at the kerbside and at one of the five Household Recycling Centres in Oswestry, Shrewsbury, Craven Arms, Whitchurch and Bridgnorth.
Heather Ireland from Shropshire Mind said they were thrilled to have been selected as the beneficiary of the scheme.
She said: “We are delighted that Veolia have chosen us as the recipient of their charity fundraising efforts this year as part of their Treecycling initiative.
"We would encourage everyone to recycle their Christmas trees, in order that Veolia can continue to raise money. Every penny raised will be spent in Shropshire to support people living with mental ill-health though our daily drop-in service and the variety of groups that we offer."
