Unsold Christmas Trees Turned Into Mulch Through Geneva Program

GENEVA, IL — A partnership between the Geneva Park District and the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva's Green Sanctuary Team is working to keep unsold Christmas trees out of landfills.

To maintain that main objective, the "TreeCycle" project turns trees that would have otherwise been turned over to dumpsters into mulch that will get placed throughout Geneva parks, officials said.

The collaboration between the city and the church began in 2021. Now, for the third year, volunteers will contact and visit local tree retailers, offering to take unsold trees and trimmings off their hands. When sales are complete, the park district will visit the retailers' sites and chip up the pieces.

"In 2022, we were thrilled to keep 780 trees out of the landfills, which is more than double the number of the previous (first) year," Carl Gorra, superintendent of parks and properties at the Geneva Park District, said in a statement. "We are hopeful to continue picking up momentum as word of the program spreads."

Local businesses are also invited to contact the UUSG at greensanctuary@uusg.org to participate in the program. Officials said the goal is "not to miss anyone, and to keep this annual offering."