By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The rules have always been simple: strip your Christmas tree before disposing of it. This year there are limited options for the disposal of real trees after Christmas. Great Bend Director of Public Lands Scott Keeler said the lake is not an option this year.
"What we've run into is there's so much garland and trash that's on the trees, that it is not compatible for fish habitat," Keeler said.
But there is still the option of taking the old trees to the compost site. Director of Public Works Jason Cauley reiterates that all decorations should be removed from the tree before disposing of it.
"The compost site is not permitted for trash," he said. "That would be considered trash or refuse. We can only take products that are still in their natural forms in a lot of respects. We can't take processed lumber, we can't take any form of trash at all. That's why it has to be stripped bare."
Trees that have been stripped bare will be added to the burn pile or recycled by other residents looking to add fish habitat in ponds. The compost site is open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.