Christmas trees get second life on coast

Have a live Christmas tree to dispose? Terrebonne Parish begins collecting trees for the Christmas Tree Recycling Program, which helps prevent coastal erosion.

Residents are asked to place their green trees out for normal garbage pick Jan. 2-7. Flocked trees or those covered with tinsel or decorations cannot be used in the program. Tree stands also cannot be used.

Trees can also be dropped off before Jan. 7 at any of the parish’s residential drop-off sites:

• 263 Ashland Landfill Road

• 651 Isle Cuba Road in Schriever

• 160 Crochetville Road in Montegut

Acceptable collected trees will be placed into retention fences – cribs – constructed along the Intracoastal Waterway near the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge. The trees provide an effective wave break, which helps reduce marsh erosion. The cribs are designed so that the trees work with natural wave action and serve as a filter, collecting sediment behind the cribs and eventually build new land.