One man's trash is a fish's new home?
The City of Fulton and the Missouri Department of Conservation have teamed up to offer area residents an opportunity to earn bonus green points when they dispose of their Christmas trees this year.
"The city is going to allow citizens to drop their trees off at the parking lot in Veterans Park near the ampitheather," said Fulton Director of Administration Bill Johnson. "The Conservation Department will cable the trees together and sink them in some of the city lakes to improve fish habitats.
"This is a great way to recycle your (real) tree and have it continue to do some good."
Scott Voney with the Department of Conservation said the program is part of the Community Assistance Program, which Fulton recently joined, that provides communities with technical assistance in planning and constructing facilities and fish management.
"It just seems like a good use of the trees, instead of putting it in a landfill," Voney said. "City lakes tend not to have a lot of habitats for fish, so this makes for better fishing overall."
He said the department most likely would sink the trees in Veteran and Truman lakes. If enough trees are recycled through the program, Johnson said Morningside Lake also could be a candidate for a new fish habitat.
Voney said all recycled Christmas trees must be bare, with no tinsel or ornaments because "we don't want to add pollution to the lake."
Johnson said there will be a sign at Veterans Park directing residents where to leave their trees. Trees will be accepted until Jan. 17.