A New Canaan nonprofit organization’s free program for recycling Christmas trees opens Tuesday morning at the Steve Benko Pool parking lot in Waveny.
Planet New Canaan’s “Tree Cycle” program will run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Dec. 30 through Jan. 11, when the discarded trees will be chipped for use on New Canaan Nature Center trails.
The Parks & Recreation Commission during a special meeting held Dec. 8 via videoconference voted unanimously in favor of allowing PNC to use the parking lot at Waveny for the Christmas tree recycling.
Commission Chair George Benington said during the meeting that the town’s three-year agreement with PNC expires Dec. 31 “so we have to approve it” through part of January. Benington and Commissioners Susan Lione, Doug Murphy, Jeff Platt, Hank Green, Gene Goodman and Dave Shea voted in favor. Commissioners Tim Klimpl, Lindsey Heron, Brittney Singer and Melany Hearne appeared from the videoconference to be absent.
Planet New Canaan’s recycling programs have grown increasingly popular. Katie Owsley, a co-president of the nonprofit organization, said that this year saw a record-setting 14,000-plus pounds of pumpkins recycled after Thanksgiving using Kiwanis Park.
Officials said that starting next year, and for three years, the overflow parking from Waveny LifeCare Network will use the pool lot in the offseason, meaning PNC’s tree recycling will need a new home for 2027.
Addressing Owsley and Heather Boulanger, a PNC board member, Parks & Recreation Director John Howe said, “I’ll be glad to sit down with you and brainstorm ideas. Maybe Kiwanis will be a good place.”
Benington complimented PNC on an “excellent job with the pumpkins” this year, saying the organization was “very responsive” and did not interfere with the Exchange Club’s popular Christmas tree and wreath sale at the Old Norwalk Road park.
Boulanger thanked Howe, saying, “We very much appreciate the opportunity to use Kiwanis [starting in 2027] and it does sound like it might make sense to keep [the tree recycling] there eventually, too. We can talk and get back to you.”