The holiday season is over and now is the time to take the tinsel and decorations off the Christmas tree and haul it out for chipping.
This weekend, many Tri-City community groups are willing to turn trees into mulch - for a small fee - to support their causes.
Below, some of the tree chipping events happening in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody:
COQUITLAM
The Kinsmen Club and 1st Kinsmen Scout Group are joining forces to host a tree chipping on Jan. 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Percy Perry Stadium parking lot at Town Centre Park (off Pinetree Way);
The Kinsmen Club And Centennial secondary's music department have an event at the school (570 Poirier St.) on Jan. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
The Friends of Mundy Park Heritage Society hosts its annual tree chipping on Jan. 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Mundy Park gravel parking lot (off Hillcrest Avenue);
and Scouts Francophones de Maillardville have a tree chipping on Jan. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Canadian Tire (1200 Sequin Dr., near Mackin Park).
Meanwhile, the city of Coquitlam will pick-up cut and bundled Christmas trees left at the curbside on scheduled collection days. Visit the municipal website at www.coquitlam.ca for details.
PORT COQUITLAM
The Parent Advisory Council at Cedar Drive elementary (3150 Cedar Dr.) will host a tree chipping on Jan. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the school parking lot for a donation;
The wood from trees chipped by the Port Coquitlam firefighters on Jan. 5 and 6 will be scattered on city trails and at parks. Their event runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at fire hall #1 (1725 Broadway St.) with a minimum $5 donation for the BC Professional Firefighters' Burn Fund. Alternatively, call 604-927-5405 to arrange for a tree pick-up for a minimum $10 donation;
and Art Knapp Plantland and Florist (1300 Dominion Ave.) will accept trees every day until Jan. 20 to chip for a minimum donation of $5, with proceeds supporting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Call 604-942-7518.
PORT MOODY
Port Moody firefighters will return Christmas trees to nature at firehall #1 (200 Ioco Rd.) while serving up coffee and hot cocoa and vacuuming up needs from vehicles, too. As well, every 30 minutes, smoke-eaters will also demonstrate how quickly a Christmas tree can go up in flames. The fundraiser for the BC Professional Firefighters' Burn Fund runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Minimum donation is $5.
