TREE RECYCLING PROGRAM ENDS WITH WEEKEND DISTRIBUTION

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- An innovative recycling effort will culminate this weekend with the distribution of 1,680 ash, maple and hackberry trees to local residents.

The trees will be made available by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, which last fall spearheaded the "papers to trees" recycling project in Cape Girardeau and other Missouri cities.

In January and February, Missouri residents were able to exchange three-foot stacks of newspapers for coupons redeemable for green ash, red maple or thornless hackberry trees. Each individual or group participating in the program was limited to two coupons.

The number of three-foot newspaper stacks that were brought to the Cape Girardeau Recycling Center exceeded the 1,500 coupons allocated to the center.

But Doug Kaminskey, the city's environmental services coordinator, said the DNR has provided an additional 180 trees to accommodate those who didn't receive coupons for their papers.

The trees will be delivered to coupon holders today, Saturday and Sunday at the A.C. Brase Arena Building at Arena Park.

Kaminskey said the "paper to trees" project was "definitely" successful.

"I think the program succeeded in doing what my interpretation is of what it set out to do, in getting people interested in recycling," Kaminskey said.

Trees will be delivered today from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and on Sunday, from noon to 6 p.m.

The 4- to 6-foot trees, balled in burlap, have an estimated value of $20-$25. A three-foot stack of paper equals the fiber of one tree.

The newsprint collected through the program was recycled for use as cellulose insulation.

Statewide, papers also were traded for trees in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, Kirksville and Chillicothe. About 16,500 trees will be distributed statewide.

The program was part of the DNR's Operation TREE (Trees Renew Energy and the Environment). In accordance with Operation TREE, the DNR also is planting trees in state parks and requiring people who reclaim mining lands to plant trees.

Cindy Carroll of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of Energy coordinated the project statewide.

"There was an overwhelming response to the program," Carroll said. "It's a three-fold energy conserver for us.

"Recycling saves energy, planting trees in an energy efficient manner saves energy, and the cellulose insulation that the paper was recycled into we encourage everyone to consider a well-insulated home for its energy-conserving benefits."

Carroll said the "paper to trees" project was a "demonstration" program and there are no immediate plans to offer the program again.

"At this time, we don't know if we'll be able to offer that again," she said. "It depends on the availability of funding."

Cape Girardeau and Kansas City are the only cities where trees will be distributed this weekend. Carroll said the DNR will deliver trees to the other participating cities later this spring.

She said that everyone with a coupon will receive a tree, but that the three varieties will be available on a "first-come, first-served" basis.

The project got off to a slow start in January. Carroll blamed the ice, snow and cold weather for keeping people at home. The program was extended through February and the response increased markedly, she said.