With Cal State tree drop off gone, where can your Christmas tree go?
| Tuesday, Dec 29 2009 04:47 PM
Last Updated Tuesday, Dec 29 2009 04:48 PM
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Felix Adamo / The Californian It isn't clear if the trees came before the sign at CSUB but the fact remains that discarded Christmas trees are in this vacant lot at the local university.
West-side residents used to dropping off Christmas trees at Cal State Bakersfield have been surprised to discover it's no longer a tree recycling spot.
Some arrived Tuesday morning with pines and firs lashed atop sport utility vehicles and nestled in truck beds. They were sent elsewhere by an officer supervising a crew of state inmates rounding up dozens of trees already dumped illegally. The crew regularly works for Cal State, the supervising officer said, and had planned to pick up tumbleweeds before the stray trees became a problem.
Kevin Barnes, the city of Bakersfield's solid waste director, said university officials chose not to host tree recycling this year. The city has mulched holiday trees for the seasonal operation for years.
"It's not the city's decision," Barnes said. "It's Cal State's decision."
The campus spokeswoman could not be reached Monday or Tuesday. Most of the university's offices are closed this week.
Barnes said it's normal for some dumping to occur when a drop-off site is shuttered. When collection at Stramler Park ended a few years back, people dumped trees for the first couple of years.
"Some are doing it out of force of habit," he said.
City crews had already ground up the Cal State trees by Tuesday afternoon, though Barnes said he and campus staff expect more mulching will be needed later in the week.
WHERE TO TAKE TREES
You can recycle your Christmas tree, free of charge, through Jan. 9 at four drop-off sites around Bakersfield. For all sites and services listed below, remember to remove ornaments, nails and stands beforehand:
* The city's green waste site at 2601 South Mount Vernon Ave., south of Highway 58. The facility is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. but will be closed New Year's Day.
* Bakersfield College, at the corner of Haley Street and University Avenue.
* Kern County Fairgrounds, in the P Street parking lot at Belle Terrace.
* Bena Landfill, 17 miles east of Bakersfield on the north side of Highway 58 at Tower Line Road. The dump is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily but will be closed New Year's Day.
A list of dozens of other sites around the county is available on the Kern County Waste Management Department's website at www.co.kern.ca.us/wmd; click on the "events" link.
Some organizations offer curbside pickup for a donation; each has its own schedule:
* Fun Sports, $10 for a Thursday, Saturday or Monday pickup, 378-2749;
* Cub Scout Pack #25, $10 Friday through Sunday, $20 weekdays, 204-4086;
* Central Valley Starling Volleyball Club, $1 a foot with a $10 minimum, 203-7230;
* Boy Scout Troop #712, $10, picking up every day through Jan. 9, 319-3954;
* Girl Scouts Central California South, $10, 549-3807.
Metro Bakersfield residents can also recycle trees in their green waste containers as long as trees are cut into small pieces and the lid closes completely.
