It’s time to rid yourself of the last vestige of the holidays and face the grim reality of January.
Christmas tree chipping services, some free and others by donation, are being offered across Vancouver between now and the first week of January.
* The UBC Botanical Garden is hosting daily tree chipping until Jan. 8 between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The garden is located at 6804 Southwest Marine Dr. and a suggested donation of $5 is appreciated. Residents are asked to remove all tinsel and decorations from their trees. Yard trimmings will not be accepted.
Funds raised will go towards John Norquay elementary school’s garden program.
For info, call 604-822-3928 or log on to botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/tree-chipping.
City of Vancouver staff are teaming up with Lions Club volunteers to offer tree chipping events Jan. 7 and 8 at four locations across the city:
* Kerrisdale Community Ice Rink parking lot: 5670 East Blvd., north of 41st Avenue.
* Kitsilano Beach parking lot: Cornwall Avenue and Arbutus Street.
* Sunset Beach, upper parking lot: Beach Avenue and Broughton Street.
* Trout Lake Community Centre parking lot: 3360 Victoria Dr., south of East 12th Avenue.
The chipping goes down daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and decorations and tinsel must be removed.
Cash and non-perishable food donations collected at the events will be distributed to local charities.
*The eighth annual “Tree Chipping for Kids” happens Jan. 8 at Kingsgate Mall in support of students at Mount Pleasant elementary school.
Running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the lower east side parking lot, the tree carnage aims to raise the necessary funds to send students on an educational outdoor field trip to a local mountain.
The by-donation chipping bonanza will include free cookies and hot chocolate for all those who donate.
The 2016 event recycled 246 trees and raised $2,100 for the school.
For info, see facebook.com/events/1715114732139135.
* The city will collect trees from residents with Green Bin service on Jan. 14. Those with the service are asked to put their trees out by 7 a.m., minus decorations and tinsel. The trees need to be laid on their sides, one metre away from garbage and green bins.
* The Vancouver South Transfer Station and Vancouver Landfill will also dispose of trees for free until Jan. 31. Remove decorations and tinsel beforehand.
