Re: Question regarding tree chipping (fwd)

[Kathie Brosemer <kathie@cleannorth.org>]

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Date: Tuesday, December 03, 2002 5:58 PM -0500
From: Kathie Brosemer <kathie@cleannorth.org>
To: Bill Polnick <bpolnick@olgc.on.ca>
Subject: Re: Question regarding tree chipping

Hi Bill,

Our thoughts for the last twelve years have been that the act of bringing
the tree for chipping is an effort that gets people thinking about their
garbage, whereas sticking it at the curbside, whatever the end result, is
just an out of sight, out of mind phenomenon.

We use the event to educate about reduce, reuse, recycle, through
information displays, additional items collected (this year it's old
blankets and towels for the Humane Society, and unwanted books for the
Friends of the Library, in past years it's been phone books, corrugated
cardboard, bicycles, white office paper, etc.

We've never done the math on vehicle emissions, but you may well be correct
about the total of private vehicles versus city trucks.  We do know,
however, that most people combine this trip with another shopping or errand
trip they were planning to make anyway, and others drop it off on their way
to work in the morning, so the net increase in emissions for dropping off
the tree is slight.  We will be handing out leaflets this year about
vehicle idling, and hope to get a few parents to start anti-idling
campaigns in their neighbourhood schools.

Also consider that if the city collected trees at curbside and brought them
to us, all our business partners that make this effort possible would stop
coming, and the city would have to do the entire job.  Places like Great
Lakes Power and Christie Campers participate because of the public festival
atmosphere and the public exposure.  They wouldn't do this for the city for
free.

About five years ago the city estimated that about 80% of the residents who
use a real tree, bring them to us, even though an easy curbside collection
was available to them.  Since then the number picked up by the city has
declined even more, so that we're estimating that about 90% are brought to
us.  Most are brought in small cars and minivans, not trucks and trailers,
although we ask people who have trucks or trailers to help any neighbours
who might have difficulty, such as seniors, shut-ins, and single moms.

I hope this answers your questions and thanks for your interest.

Kathie Brosemer
Chair, Clean North

--On Tuesday, December 03, 2002 5:41 PM -0500 Bill Polnick
<bpolnick@olgc.on.ca> wrote:

> Just trying to figure the reason why you would ask city counsel to stop
> collecting christmas trees at roadside.  Would it not be a better idea to
> collect the trees at the roadside and get them to bring the trees to your
> chipping location.  I realize that you are trying to be good to the
> environment  by diverting the trees from the dump, but please consider
> the entire process.  It is probably better to have a few trucks, designed
> for this very application to pick up 1000 trees than have 1000 vehicles
> all make the trip to the Mall parking lot.  As well those  without trucks
> or trailors will probably just cut them up and throw them out with the
> normal garbage.
>
> Just a thought!
>
> Bill

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