TEHACHAPI, Calif. -- On Jan. 9, at 8 a.m. volunteers from the Bakersfield High School ROTC are said to meet at the Bakersfield College Christmas Tree Recycling drop-off location to load hundreds of Christmas Trees into 4 large semi-trucks for transportation up the Kern Canyon. J. Torres Company Inc. furnishes the trucks for this annual project which provides fish habitat and erosion control in Lake Isabella.

The use of Christmas Trees for habitat improvement is a unique recycling program in Kern County says Douglas E. Landon, director of the Kern County Waste Management Department. Tree Recycling in this manner is truly the Gift that Keeps on Giving by sinking trees into the lake as a haven for small fish.

Volunteers from local businesses, high schools, federal and county agencies have joined to make this event happen. J. Torres Company, Inc. will provide the transportation, at no cost, taking the trees from Bakersfield to Lake Isabella. The U.S. Forestry Service and California Department of Fish & Game, and the Kern Valley Fish and Game Habitat Club provide the manpower to unload the trees and submerse them into the lake.

Saturday will be the last opportunity to recycle Christmas Trees at one of the 33 drop-off locations throughout Kern County.

Christmas Tree Drop Off Locations

Christmas trees will be chipped and shredded into mulch which is used for water conservation and weed control in parks, ground padding in playgrounds, erosion/dust control on hiking trails and bridle paths. Mulch is also used as an additive in composting and fertilizers for landscaping and as alternative fuel in "biomass" co-generation facilities.