City of Edmonton ending curbside Christmas tree pickup

The collection service started in 1990 but in the past decade alone, the number of Christmas trees being picked up has decreased by more than 50 per cent.

Edmonton city council is looking for savings in any way it can, and the newest one comes in the form of a program that has been running for 35 years.

Come next winter, if you have a natural Christmas tree in your home during the holidays —  you will have to get rid of it on your own.

The city has decided it will no longer be collecting natural Christmas trees at the end of the holiday season.

“Everybody was paying for a service that very few people were getting. So on the one hand, it’s modest savings; on the other hand, you find the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves,” said Ward pihêsiwin councillor Tim Cartmell.

The collection service started in 1990, but every year, fewer trees are collected. In the past decade alone, the number of trees being picked up has decreased by more than 50 per cent.

This year, waste services collected 6,408 trees.

“We were spending that all on overtime to service less than 7,000 homes that were putting out trees, but you’re going up and down every street,” said Cartmell.

The changes will save the city around $120,000 a year. That money will then be reinvested back into waste operations.