“This program is one of the first our organization began coordinating over 20 years ago. We are very pleased for the community support it has received, which allows us to continue. In January 2009, over 32,000 households dropped off trees,” said Lori Gummow, executive director of Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful.

Pine mulch is created as the trees are chipped. In the past 22 years, more than 1 million pounds of pine mulch has been created from over one-half million trees. The mulch is available at no charge to area residents for use in their home and business landscaping. “Pine mulch makes wonderful ground cover because it is so durable. It is great to use in gardens for reducing weed growth and retaining moisture. Acid loving plants such as roses, lilies of the valley, lilacs, azaleas, hydrangeas, blueberries and evergreens really benefit from the nutrients in the mulch,” Gummow stated. “Mulch is available only on a first come, first served basis. Residents need to bring their own shovel and container to collect the mulch,” Gummow continued.

Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful reminds residents to wrap their tree in a reusable bed sheet instead of a disposable tree bag to transport the tree to a drop-off site. All lights, ornaments, garland, tinsel and the tree stand need to be removed. “We ask that everything be removed from the tree because the trees are put through large chippers and anything left on them could damage the equipment or harm a crew member. This is the reason we can not accept pine wreaths with metal frames at the drop-off sites. Flocked trees are also not accepted, as the white flocking material is not biodegradable,” Gummow added.

The drop-off sites are unmanned and open twenty-four hours a day. The Christmas Tree Recycling drop-off locations are as follows: Don Schmid Youth Sports Center at Riverdahl Park, Rockford; Blackhawk Park, 100 – 15th Ave., Rockford; Levings Lake, east entrance off Johnston Avenue, Rockford; Andrews Park, 800 N. Central Ave., Rockford; Gambino Park, River Lane off North Alpine Road, Rockford; Alpine Park, 900 S. Alpine Road, Rockford; Martin Park, Park Ridge Road off Riverside Boulevard, Loves Park; Machesney Park Village Hall, 300 Machesney Road; Baumann Park, behind the maintenance building on South Walnut, Cherry Valley; Williams Tree Farm, 4661 Yale Bridge Road, north Winnebago County; Rockton Boat Ramp Parking Lot, off Hononegah Road; Valley View Farms, 6440 Belvidere Road, Roscoe; Westlake Village, nature area south of the Smith Road intersection, Winnebago.

For more information on this recycling program, please visit www.knib.org or call Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful at 815-637-1343.