80,000 Christmas Trees Recycled

Ventura County residents recycled more than 80,000 Christmas trees following the 1993-94 holiday season, diverting about 800 tons of material from landfills.

The trees represent a 19% increase over last year, county officials said. The increase has been attributed to the convenience of curbside collection and a growing post-holiday tradition among county residents to recycle their trees.

The program marked the fourth year that the Countywide Recycling Consortium has coordinated the recycling effort, officials said. The consortium is a group of private and public agencies that promote recycling.

County officials said most cities saw increases in participation as well.