When Christmas is over, most people have nothing to do with their trees except kick them to the curb for trash pickup.
But the trees have ecological value that’s needed right here in Hampton Roads, said Kristina Scott with the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach.
They want to help residents “tree-cycle.”
“So instead of sending them to the landfill, you can drop them off and they'll be used on the beaches where they will help prevent erosion,” Scott said.
The Virginia Beach aquarium is accepting live-cut trees — from residential households only — at its east parking lot from Dec. 28 through Jan. 9.
An organization called Marine Stewards America will then take the trees to beaches around Little Creek-Fort Story.
Placing the trees among beach grasses helps stabilize shoreline, boost wildlife habitat and enrich the plants with nutrients as they break down, Scott said.
“It’s providing actual functional use for something that we're no longer using.”
Residents should make sure their trees are completely bare before dropping them off.
Officials can only use up to 200 trees for the beach project, but any more collected will likely be turned into mulch.
The aquarium’s also holding an e-cycling event on Jan. 11, where people can get rid of coffee machines, toasters, used car batteries and personal electronics, as well as unneeded prescription medications. Old cellphones will be refurbished and donated to victims of human trafficking.
Learn more about how to drop off your tree on the Virginia Aquarium website.
