Edmonton city council has made the decision to no longer collect natural Christmas trees at the end of the holiday season. The collection service had been running for 35 years, but it was deemed as not cost-effective as the number of trees being picked up had significantly decreased over the years. This move is expected to save the city approximately $120,000 per year, which will then be reinvested back into waste operations. The changes have disappointed some residents who prefer natural trees, but councilor Tim Cartmell emphasized the need to prioritize city finances and allocate resources where they are most needed.
The decision to discontinue the collection of natural Christmas trees was made in response to the declining number of trees being picked up each year. In the past decade alone, the number of trees collected has decreased by more than 50%. Councilor Tim Cartmell highlighted that the city was spending a significant amount on overtime to service a small number of homes that were putting out trees, making it inefficient and not cost-effective. The savings achieved from this decision will be redirected towards waste operations, allowing the city to allocate resources more effectively.
While the move to stop collecting natural Christmas trees may be disappointing to some Edmontonians who prefer real trees for the holidays, Councilor Tim Cartmell emphasized the importance of finding savings wherever possible to address the city’s financial needs. The decision to discontinue the collection service was made in response to the declining demand and the inefficiency of the service. Residents will now have to dispose of their natural Christmas trees on their own, with options available at community recycling depots and ECO stations. The council believes that every little bit of savings can make a difference in addressing the city’s financial challenges.
The decision to stop collecting natural Christmas trees is part of Edmonton city council’s efforts to find savings and allocate resources more efficiently. The collection service had been running for 35 years, but with the declining number of trees being picked up each year, the council deemed it necessary to discontinue the service to save costs. The move is expected to save the city approximately $120,000 per year, which will be reinvested back into waste operations. While some residents may be disappointed, the council believes that prioritizing financial sustainability is crucial for addressing the city’s needs.
Councilor Tim Cartmell emphasized the importance of finding savings wherever possible to address the city’s financial challenges. The decision to discontinue the collection of natural Christmas trees was made in response to the declining demand for the service over the years. The council realized that the cost of collecting the trees outweighed the benefits, leading to the decision to discontinue the service. The savings achieved from this decision will be redirected towards waste operations, allowing the city to allocate resources more efficiently and effectively. Residents will now have to dispose of their natural Christmas trees on their own, with drop-off options available at community recycling depots and ECO stations.
Overall, the decision to end the collection of natural Christmas trees in Edmonton was made to address the declining demand for the service and to find savings in the city’s operations. The move is expected to save the city approximately $120,000 per year, which will be reinvested back into waste operations. While some residents may be disappointed by this change, Councilor Tim Cartmell emphasized the importance of prioritizing financial sustainability to address the city’s needs effectively. Residents will have the option to drop off their natural Christmas trees at community recycling depots and ECO stations next holiday season when the changes take effect.
