CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Dec. 20, 2019) – The West
Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s (WVDEP) Rehabilitation
Environmental Action Plan (REAP), in conjunction with West Virginia State Parks
and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR), is hosting a
Christmas tree recycling event Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at
Charleston’s Capitol Market.
The collected trees are to be repurposed as
fish habitat in lakes around the state, including Cheat, Tygart, Stonewall
Jackson, Stonecoal, Burnsville, Sutton, Summersville, Big Ditch, Sherwood, R.D.
Baily, Beech Fork, and East Lynn Lakes, and the Apple Grove Hatchery in Mason
County.
There is no limit to the number of trees each
person can donate, and there is no size limit. Prior to being donated, all the
decorations – including artificial snow, lights, tinsel, and bulbs – must be
removed from the tree. The trees must be real trees, and the branches must be
attached to the tree; individual branches of trees cannot be accepted.
WVDEP and WVDNR staff will be at the Capitol
Market to help unload trees from cars and trucks. Those who donate trees can
register for prizes, including three one-night stays at North Bend State Park
and $25 gift certificate to Capitol Market. Each person who donates a tree will
receive a free gift, courtesy of WVDEP-REAP.
For more WVDEP news and
information, go to www.dep.wv.gov. Also, connect with the agency on
all social media platforms. Follow @DEPWV on Twitter, Like us on Facebook
at https://www.facebook.com/depwv/, and find us on YouTube by
searching “Environment Matters.”