Ready to get rid of your Christmas tree? Try feeding it to a goat
Does figuring out what to do with that old Christmas tree get your goat? Why not feed it to one?
The city will once again be offering its Christmas tree recycling program next month, but the nonprofit Urban Growers Collective urges those who can't wait until then to donate their trees to some of their goats, who munch on them as a snack.
From now until Jan. 11 residents can drop off their old trees at South Chicago Farm, 9001 S. Mackinaw Ave., between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. for the 15 Nigerian pygmy goats who make quick work of bark, branches and needles.
"Christmas trees, specifically pine trees, are safe and beneficial for goats, offering vitamins A and C while helping maintain a healthy digestive tract, free of parasites," the organization said. "Goats love to eat trees as a snack."
The trees must be free of any decorations, including hooks and tinsel. Goats can't digest metal and it is harmful to them. Donors should also make sure their trees weren't sprayed with fire retardant substances.
If you can't donate to the goats, for those or other reasons, the city’s annual tree recycling program starts Jan. 11 and runs through Jan. 25. Live trees can be dropped off during normal park hours at any of the 27 locations set up by the city — one more than last year.
Those trees will be ground up into mulch, which means the trees must be stripped of any decorations or bases and must not be dropped off in bags. Garlands and wreaths held together by wire also can't be dropped off.
Mulch produced from the trees is destined for residents, local parks and forests, according to the city.
There are also options for those who need to get rid of non-working holiday lights but don't want them ending up in a landfill. The nonprofit Reduce Waste Chicago is operating its fourth annual holiday lights collection program.
Residents can drop off old and broken holiday lights at more than 30 locations across Chicago through Jan. 31. The organization suggests residents first try replacing bulbs and fuses before recycling their lights. They should be separated from any other decorations and free from cardboard or plastic bags.
A full list of drop-off locations can be found on the organization’s website.
Here is a list of the city's tree recycling sites:
- Bessemer Park, 8930 S. Muskegon Ave.
- Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell St.
- Forestry Site, 900 E. 103rd St.
- Garfield Park, 100 N. Central Park Ave.
- Grant Park, 900 S. Columbus Drive
- Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1369 N. Sacramento Ave.
- Hiawatha Park, 8029 W. Forest Preserve Dr.
- Jackson Park, 6300 S. Cornell Ave.
- Kennedy Park, 2427 W. 113th St.
- Kelvyn Park, 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave.
- Lake Meadows Park, 3117 S. Rhodes Ave.
- Lincoln Park, Cannon Drive at Fullerton Ave. (East side of Cannon Drive)
- Mahalia Jackson Park, 8385 S. Birkhoff Ave.
- Margate Park, 4921 N. Marine Drive
- Marquette Park, 6700 S. Kedzie Ave.
- McKinley Park, 2210 W. Pershing Rd.
- Mt. Greenwood Park, 3721 W. 111th St.
- North Park Village, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.
- Norwood Park, 5800 N Avondale Ave. (Service Yard)
- Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave.
- Riis Park, 6201 W. Wrightwood Ave.
- Rowan Park, 11546 S. Avenue L
- Sheridan Park, 910 S. Aberdeen St.
- Walsh Park, 1722 N. Ashland Ave.
- Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Ave.
- Wentworth Park, 5701 S. Narragansett Ave.
- West Chatham Park, 8223 S. Princeton Ave.