Issue 52: 18 Years Ago: County Launches Christmas Tree Recycling ProgramThis is a featured page

Issue 52: 18 Years Ago: County Launches Christmas Tree Recycling Program - LoudounPediaLoudoun County launched its Christmas tree recycling program 18 years ago, in December 1989, as part of a larger effort to reduce the amount of waste being deposited in the county landfill.

“The purpose of the program is to divert as many trees as possible from the county landfill, and to create a broader awareness of the opportunities for recycling here in Loudoun County,” said Steve Carfora, who had been hired earlier that year to serve as the county’s first recycling coordinator.

The program was in operation during the three weekends following Christmas. The county, in cooperation with waste haulers, businesses, citizens and other groups, established dropoff points for residents to bring their trees after the holidays. Some trees were also picked up at curbside by trash haulers.

The trees were then transported to the landfill, where they were stockpiled and chipped. The wood chips were subsequently made available to residents for use as mulch or for landscaping.

Carfora estimated that, as of January 9, 1990, about 1,200 Christmas trees had already been brought in for recycling.

“As a result of the Christmas tree recycling program, we [have already] saved one day’s worth of space at the landfill,” Carfora said. He estimated that the collection of 1,200 trees was roughly equivalent in volume to the total amount of waste that was deposited at the landfill on an average day.

Loudoun County’s Christmas tree recycling program has grown significantly over the years. The Loudoun County Office of Solid Waste Management estimates that the county partnered with waste haulers to recycle about 98 tons of trees last year, an increase of 48 percent over the previous year.

Sources: Loudoun County press releases
Office of Solid Waste Management

Image: Max Johns (left) of Browning-Ferris Industries and volunteer Jonathan
Johnson accept trees for the county’s Christmas tree recycling program; photo by Jim Barnes, 1990


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