Thursday, January 06, 2011

Paris recycles Christmas trees


Remember a few years ago when I told you that a lot of Parisians would throw their Christmas tree out of the window after Christmas?! Well now it's very badly considered! Now, if you want to be a good Parisian, you have to take it to one of the 95 Christmas tree recycling stations, that the Paris town hall installed everywhere in the city. I sound like I'm joking, but in fact I think it's a pretty good idea (providing you have a collection station near your home of course...). BTW, I went out today, not very far, but I went out. The wicked flu will soon be history (for me!)

20 comments:

  1. I'm behind on my blog reading, but am glad to hear that you're already on the mend.

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  2. I'm just over flu too Eric. Isn't it the most horrible thing? It's the most ill I've felt for a long time. Glad to hear you're on the mend. Slowly does it. Each day you will feel able to do just that little bit more.

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  3. Glad to know you are starting to feel better!
    In our city most home have yards so we have curbside yard waste pick up. People can cut up Christmas trees to fit the big cans and the city will collect them with regular pick up for a few weeks after Christmas. When we lived in San Fransico we used to have a running joke about all the derelict Christmas trees standing about on corners in the dark of night, tinsel trailing in the breeze, abandoned like bums by the side of the road. There you could call for the Boy Scouts to come collect one and dispose of it for you for a donation.
    We took a tree on top of our car, on the ferry boat to Whidbey Island. The house we rented required us to pack out all of our own trash as there was no city collection service. So, I found I could tie a tree to the top of the car after Christmas and took it to the island's yard waste disposal station where they turn them into compost. . . :-).
    -Kim

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  4. They look like pods in Invastion of the Body Snatchers, or eggs in Alien movies.

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  5. We have collecting stations (parking lots, many) and you have until the end of January to drop off your tree... no lights, no tinsel, no ornaments.

    Glad that you are feeling better, Eric!

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  6. I sorry to hear of the demise of my very favorite French tradition. But, its for the best. I do hope that's recylceable plastic webbing, or they've sort of missed the point. My local market sells organic fruit -- with each apple or pear or whatever wrapped in an individual piece of plastic -- saying "organic". Not getting the big picture, I think!

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  7. Indeed, the recycling centers do seem safer!

    Eric, I'm glad to hear that you are climbing out of the sick pit. Keep taking care of yourself until you are "good and well."

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  8. Recycling FTW! Especially Xmas trees!

    I can't say I'm a fan of spending hours sorting my garbage and the logistics of having 3 bins when you live in an small apart are, ohum... but OK, fine, I'll do it.

    On the other hand, when I see perfectly good xmas trees tossed on the sidewalk the day after xmas, it just kind of breaks my heart. And they smell so good, too. :(

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  9. Glad to hear you're feeling better already. So it wasn't H1N1, thank goodness for that cause I think it takes weeks to be rid of it, for the lucky ones who can fight it (most of the people, probably).

    Now, I got a secret ... having a Grog when you're not actually sick is ... well... pretty good! ;)

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  10. I waited till no one was around and threw mine off the balcony last night, it was raining and the street was quiet. I then went downstairs and dragged the tree over to the kerb where the bins are left, this morning the tree was gone and the big pile of needles where the tree hit the ground was swept up. Its amazing, like Santa Claus!

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  11. It would be sad for me to take my Christmas tree there, finally, we shared the holidays together.

    Regards

    Valery

    [Barcelona Daily Photo]

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  12. Jeff, it's scary that I think like you. I say, bring back that old tradition of tossing trees from the balcony. A certain charm that is...

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  13. Good to hear you're feeling so much better, Eric.
    Recycling is a very good idea, even if it's christmas trees.
    Jeff & Michael : yes it is scary that there's two of the kind, lol.
    Michael I'm sure you can still toss your tree from the balcony as long as you take it to the recycling station afterwards ;o)

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  14. Our little community recycles the trees into mulch for our nature trails. We didn't have a tree this year because of our vacation, but I love the idea of using it for another purpose that really helps. The city can save money on mulch, and we get to enjoy our tree for months to come!

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  15. Tons of people in NY sick with flu too. Not a pretty picture, but I'm going to try to escape it by jumping a flight to Paris tonight! Hope it's warmer in Paris and less snow than Long Island!

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  16. i live in a planned community in So Cal....the city hires a service to pick up trees for 3 weeks after christmas...this particular city does it's own composting, and then uses the compost throughout the year, citywide...it's been doing this for at least 20 years.....but tossing the tree sounds so much more entertaining!

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  17. I'd still be tossing mine out the window (and then taking it to be turned into mulch)—only now I have a really good fake tree. Glad you're feeling better!

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  18. This is new for me but what I think is good is gonna so useful do that and help the enviroment

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