As the holiday season comes to a close, many residents in Petawawa, Pembroke, and Laurentian Valley may be wondering what to do with their Christmas trees. Local municipalities have made arrangements for curbside collection of Christmas trees in early January, making disposal easy and convenient for everyone.
In the Town of Petawawa, Christmas trees will be collected during the week of January 6 on your regular collection day. The City of Pembroke will also collect trees during the same week, weather permitting. If a significant snowstorm occurs, the collection will be rescheduled. Similarly, in the Township of Laurentian Valley, Christmas trees will be picked up during the week of January 6 on the regular collection day, but again, weather conditions may affect the schedule.
It’s important to note that Christmas trees will be collected separately from all other household waste, and residents should follow a few simple guidelines. Trees must be free from all lights and decorations. Artificial trees and trees placed in plastic bags will not be collected. Additionally, residents are asked not to place their trees in the green cart.
Once collected, the Christmas trees in Petawawa and Pembroke are taken to the Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre, where they are transformed into wood chips. These wood chips are then used in the composting process at the Centre, helping to create valuable organic material. In Laurentian Valley, the collected trees are repurposed as decorative pieces along the Four Seasons Trail during the skating season, adding a festive touch to the outdoor area.
Residents are reminded not to place Christmas trees on top of or in snowbanks. Mark Behm, Public Works Manager for Laurentian Valley, explained that trees can become frozen in the snowbank, creating safety concerns for collection staff and potentially obstructing snow removal operations.
For those who prefer to drop off their Christmas trees, the Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre offers free drop-off during the month of January for residents of Petawawa, Pembroke, Laurentian Valley, and North Algona Wilberforce.
For more information, residents can refer to their municipality’s collection calendar or visit www.ovwrc.com. If further assistance is needed, they can contact Chris Mantha, Director of Public Works in Petawawa at 613-687-5536, Brian Lewis, Director of Operations in Pembroke at 613-735-6821 ext. 1409, or Mark Behm, Public Works Manager in Laurentian Valley at 613-735-6291.
By following these guidelines, residents can help ensure the safe and eco-friendly disposal of their Christmas trees.
(Written by: Emma Butler)