Yesterday, a tree; today, it

Metro Public Works, in conjunction with the Metro Parks, will be turning Christmas trees into mulch from now through Jan. 15.

The following Metro locations are collection sites for the holiday tree recycling effort: Cane Ridge Park, 419 Battle Road, Antioch; Cedar Hill Park, 860 Old Hickory Blvd., Madison; East Park, 700 Woodland St.; Edwin Warner Park, 50 Vaughn Road; Elmington Park, 3531 West End Ave.; Hadley Park, 1037 28th Ave. N.; Hartman Park, 2801 Tucker Road; Joelton Community Park; Looby Community Center, Metro Center Boulevard; Madison Park, 510 North Dupont Ave., Madison; Reservoir Park, Eighth Avenue South at Argyle; Richland Park, 4601 Charlotte Ave.; Two Rivers Park, 3150 McGavock Pike; Whitfield Park, Edmondson Pike at Brewer Drive; and the Convenience Center on Richard Adams Drive.

According to Kristen Deitrick, a recycling coordinator with Public Works, this is an important effort because it will produce usable mulch as well as conserve landfill space.

"The trees will be turned into mulch, which can be used on plants and in landscaping," Dietrick said. "And it keeps trees out of the landfills."

According to Jack Sawyer, sanitation manager with Public Works, trees left out with the garbage will be picked up, but not recycled.

TO RECYCLE

To schedule a pickup of your Christmas tree, call 862-8971. All lights and tinsel must be removed for the trees to be recycled.