Cinnaminson Christmas Trees Could Help Rebuild Jersey Shore

The Christmas trees Cinnaminson residents put out by the curb this week could be helped to rebuild sand dunes lost during Hurricane Sandy.

According to one local news outlet, some shore towns, like Toms River in Ocean County, are asking for donations.

Mayor Ben Young, who also serves as the director of public works, said rather than take the time to grind down the trees as the department does now, Cinnaminson will donate them to shore efforts.

“I’m willing to invest the time,” Young said. “I think it’s for a good cause. If that’s what they are using to try to help rebuild the Jersey Shore, we’re more than happy to help them.”

According to an article on Phillyburbs.com, Cattus Island County Park in Toms River has been using used Christmas trees as mulch to resurface walking trails there for years.”

This year, the article states, collected trees will be distributed to beach towns to build dunes. A call to public works of Toms River was not returned Tuesday.

Cinnaminson usually collects trees and grinds them down along with other brush, Young said. Pickup is this week anyway. If public works’ employees see trees out this week, they will be picked up and loaded for a ride down the shore.

“It’s a good thing to do,” Young said.

Residents can also drop off their trees at the Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex in Florence Township.

For trees to be eligible for free disposal with the county, residents or municipalities must bring them to the landfill complex as a separate load (not mixed with trash). No artificial or flocked trees can be accepted. All plastic bags, ropes, decorations, garland, tinsel, ornaments, lights, stands, wire and nails should be removed.

The county grinds up the trees to use as an amendment to compost produced at the co-composting facility.

For more information, call the Resource Recovery Complex scalehouse, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at 609-499-5300 or the County Recycling Office at 609-499-1001.