(EMILY SCHWARZE/STAFF)

ORLEANS PARISH:

Place trees curbside on regularly scheduled collection days between January 5 and 8. Residents must remove all lights, tree stands, ornaments and tinsel from live trees. Flocked and artificial trees will not be collected, and trees should not be placed on the neutral grounds.  For more information call 311, or visit www.cityofno.com
 
In January, volunteers will help bundle the trees, which will then be airlifted from the recycle site to Bayou Sauvage.  Trees will then be submerged along the coastline where they will catch silt and sand, creating additional sites for plants and animals to live and grow. This will create new wetland habitats by stimulating the formation of new marsh and providing important habitat areas for fish and wildlife, resulting in a more highly productive marsh.  Those interested in volunteering should also contact the Office of Environmental Affairs at (504) 658-4070. 

JEFFERSON PARISH:

 All residents of unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Kenner and Lafitte are asked to place their trees curbside on the evening of January 7th for collection on January 8, 9 and 10, 2009.  Trees should be stripped of all tinsel, garland, lights, ornamentation, plastic bags and tree stands.  Flocked or painted trees cannot be used with this project.  Garbage trucks will make only one pass through each neighborhood, typically on the second scheduled collection day.

Jefferson Parish is looking for volunteers, especially those with shallow draft boats to assist with placing thousands of Christmas trees into pre-constructed shoreline fences located in Goose Bayou, east of the Town of Jean Lafitte. 

Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at Cochiara’s Marina, 4477 Jean Lafitte Boulevard in Lafitte on the following four Saturdays: January 10, January 17, January 24 and January 31.  If there is inclement weather (rain or high winds) on any of the following dates, please call 731-4612 to check if a scheduled event has been cancelled. 

Volunteers must be at least 17 years of age and should wear layered clothing, including longs pants, long sleeved shirt and closed toe sturdy shoes.  Hats and sunscreen are also recommended.  Gloves, safety glasses and life vests will be provided.  Lunch and refreshments will be provided as well.

For more information, to sign up as a volunteer or if you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor, please contact the Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs at 731-4612 or email:  jpenvironmental@jeffparish.net

ST. TAMMANY PARISH:

St. Tammany Parish residents should call their local garbage hauler (the company they pay for trash pick up) to see if they are participating in the program, and for pickup schedules. 

Citizens may also drop off their trees at two locations in the parish.  In eastern St. Tammany, trees may be dropped off at the Slidell Administrative Complex on Military Road near Brownswitch.  In western St. Tammany, trees may be dropped off at the Covington Fairgrounds Florida St. entrance near Lyons Elementary.  Trees dropped off at both locations will be used for the recycling project.

No flocked trees can be accepted, and no tinsel or other decorations should be left on the trees. 

Christmas trees are used for marsh restoration in St. Tammany Parish.  According to St. Tammany officials, pre-Katrina, Christmas trees had contributed to the restoration of over 10 acres of vital wetlands.  During Katrina, St. Tammany Parish lost 7.3 square miles of wetlands.  Last year, the collected trees were burned by arson before they could be placed in the marsh. 

ST. BERNARD PARISH:

St. Bernard Parish residents should put their Christmas trees curbside this week, and they will be picked up Monday, Jan. 12. Unflocked, clean trees will be gathered to be used for wetland restoration projects.

To be used in the wetlands, the trees must not be flocked; they must be cleaned of any ornaments, lights or tinsel. Also, they cannot have their stands connected or be in bags.

LAFOURCHE PARISH:

Curbside collection of Christmas trees in Lafourche Parish will take place starting Thursday, Jan. 8 through Saturday, Jan. 10 and again starting Thursday, Jan. 15 through Saturday, Jan. 17.

Place your Christmas tree curbside, separate from garbage and trash items, for pick-up during these periods. Trees should be bare, without ornaments, flocking, tinsel or stands. Green trees only - no artificial trees.

Residents wishing to drop off Christmas trees may do so at the designated locations at Thibodaux High School, Central Lafourche High School and South Lafourche High School.

All trees placed on the curbside after Jan. 17, or any tree which is not recyclable, will be picked up with the regular garbage pick-up. So if you wish to recycle your tree, have it curbside during the collection period or bring it to one of the drop off sites.