See complete story by Beth J. Harpaz, Nov 5, 2013 - NEW YORK (AP)
__________________________________________________
Tree remains on Ocean Beach after illegal burning in January 2012, NPS Photo
GETTING RID OF YOUR TREE
Whoever is in charge of your regular garbage pick-up probably has a plan for collecting Christmas trees after the holidays. If you don't know what to do with your tree, give them a call. Typically, they will have instructions for when and how to leave your tree at the curb. In other cases, there may be a drop-off location.
CHIPPING AND BIOMASS
Some trees may end up in the landfill, but more and more green waste programs are recycling trees by chipping them and using the chips for compost, mulch, or biomass-fuel. Tree chips can be turned into compost within 3-months using biological processes. This will be the fate of Christmas trees taken to Resource Recovery in Bolinas and West Marin Compost in Nicasio. Mulch from tree chips can be used to suppress weeds, reduce erosion, add soil nutrients, retain soil moisture....And then there is alternative energy... Chips are burned to create electricity in biomass plants like the ones in Tracy or Woodland where a lot of the Christmas tree chips from the San Francisco Bay Area will be taken. These biomass plants provide energy to thousands of homes.
AVOID FIRE HAZARDS
It's not a good idea to burn Christmas trees in fireplaces or fire pits unless you remove the branches because the oily, green needles make a dirty burn with black smoke which is unhealthy to breath. In contrast, the air leaving a biomass generator is filtered to remove soot before being released to the surrounding environment. Conifer needles are also very flammable and prone to casting embers which can be very hazardous.
DON'T RUIN YOUR HOLIDAY WITH A CITATION FOR CHRISTMAS TREE BURNING!
Besides environmental concerns, burning Christmas trees is prohibited in some places and may result in a fine. For example, even though some people do it every year, Christmas tree burning is not allowed at Ocean Beach or anywhere else in Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
__________________________________________________
"For decades, one not-so-secret tradition has been the annual Post-Yule Pyre, a massively unauthorized torching of used-up, spiritless Christmas trees at an undisclosed location on Ocean Beach..."
See complete story by Jesse Garnier, January 4, 2013 - SFBAY.CA
_________________________________________________
Numerous $125 citations for Christmas tree burning were issued at Ocean Beach by Park Police last year.
If you hear of any plans for a "Post-Yule Pyre", please contact a Park Ranger!
TOP BANNER PHOTO: Christmas trees being loaded into a chipper at San Francisco City Hall Plaza in December 2012. Photo credit: Cindy Chew / Special to the S.F. Examiner. More...