Discarded Christmas trees to be used in creek restoration projects in Ontario town

Christmas trees collected during waste pickup over the next two weeks in Whitby will get new life in stream restoration projects, primarily in Lynde Creek.

This is the second year the town has partnered with Central Lakes Conservation Authority, with the trees delivered to CLOCA help stabilize stream banks, control erosion, capture sediment and create important habitat for aquatic life including endangered species.

While the town collects Christmas trees every January as part of its leaf and yard waste program, this initiative ensures the trees provide environmental benefits long after the holidays are over. As a reminder, these efforts are strategic and science-based – do not dump Christmas trees in the creek.

The trees will be collected in blue (odd-numbered) collection areas from January 12 to 16 and yellow (even-numbered) collection areas from January 19 to 23. Residents are asked to clean natural Christmas trees of any tinsel, decorations, wire, stands or bags, and cut trees longer than three metres (10 feet) in half. The town can’t collect trees that are frozen in snowbanks.

To confirm your collection pick-up day, check the waste collection calendar, download the Whitby Waste Buddy app from Google Play or the App Store or visit whitby.ca/Waste.