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Only real trees accepted; Lights and trimmings must be removed
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – On Jan. 6, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s (WVDEP) Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan (REAP) and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) will accept donated Christmas trees that will be repurposed as fish habitat in lakes and rivers.
Trees will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Capitol Market in Charleston. Any size tree will be accepted, provided that it is not an artificial tree. All lights, ornaments, and tinsel must be removed before the tree is donated. Individual pine branches that were used as trim cannot be accepted. There is no limit to the number of trees that can be donated.
The donated trees will be repurposed as fish habitat in one of nine lakes across West Virginia: Burnsville Lake in Braxton County, Stonewall Jackson Lake in Lewis County, Stonecoal Lake in Lewis and Upshur County, Cheat Lake in Monongalia County, Moncove Lake in Monroe County, Tygart Lake in Taylor County, East Lynn Lake and Beech Fork Lake in Wayne County, and Big Ditch Lake in Webster County.
Those who donate trees can sign up to win one of three one-night stays at Twin Falls State Park or a $25 Gift Certificate to Capitol Market. Everyone who brings in a tree will receive a gift from the WVDEP-REAP Recycling Program.