Tanenbaums can be recycled
Christmas trees that brought holiday cheer to homes across the city can bring life to yards and gardens as compost.
This year, the city is offering 17 drop-off locations specifically for Christmas trees as well as curbside pickup for residential customers with yard waste collection. The goal is to divert the green waste and create a second use as mulch, compost and wood chips, which is available year-round fre of charge at the Miramar Greenery, 5180 Convoy St.
According to the Environmental Services Department, organic plant materials compose 20 percent of Miramar Landfill’s current mass. Trees thrown in the regular trash or dumpster end up in the landfill, taking up valuable space.
The drop-off sites ” which include Swanson Pool at 3585 Governor Drive in University City and Kate Sessions Memorial Park at Soledad Road and Loring Street in La Jolla ” are currently open and will accept trees during daylight hours through Jan. 23, 2007. Trees from commercial lots or fund-raising projects will be accepted at the Miramar Greenery.
All trees should be stripped of lights, stands, ornaments and other decorations. Flocked trees are acceptable.
For more information, visit www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/ or call (858) 694-7000.

Tips for turning the holidays greener
Between the Thanksgiving and New Year’s holidays, San Diego households generate an average of 10 extra bags of trash, according to the city’s Environmental Services Department.
In order to avoid sending recyclables to Miramar Landfill, which is fast approaching capacity, the city recommends separating the following goods from the mounds of holiday waste: aluminum pie and turkey tins, foil, pressboard food boxes, glass food jars, metal cans, paper egg cartons, paper shopping bags, cardboard and paper products or packaging of any kind, paper gift wrapping, plastic bottles, milk and water jugs, glass bottles, wine-in-a-box containers with plastic removed and empty aerosol cans.
The aforementioned recyclables can be placed in city blue trash bins for pick-up or dropped off at recycling dumpsters at participating recreation centers.
Recycling is not the only way to turn the holidays a lovely shade of green; reducing and reusing holiday items helps minimize waste as well. Food jars, pie tins, gift bags and cardboard boxes can find a second life when used for leftovers or future mailing and gifts, respectively. Vegetable food scraps can be composted in a backyard bin.
The city also recommends that cooking oil, fat and grease be collected and returned to the drop-off location at the Miramar Recycling Center, 5165 Convoy St., free of charge. Oils must not be poured down drains, as this is a big cause of pipe blockage leading to sewage spills in the city. When disposing of oils in the trash, they must first be absorbed with paper towels, newspaper or cat litter and placed in a plastic bag of their own.
For more information, visit www.sandiego.gov/mwwd/ or www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/, or call (858) 268-8971.

City Council 2007 committees OK’d
The 2007 San Diego City Council committee assignments, which were proposed by Council President and District 1 Councilman Scott Peters, were unanimously approved by council members on Tuesday, Nov. 29, according to Pam Hardy, communications director for Peters’ office.
Two assignment changes were the naming of District 8 Councilman Ben Hueso as vice chairman of the Committee on Land Use and Housing and of District 2 Councilman Kevin Faulconer as vice chairman for the Committee on Budget and Finance, Hardy said.
District 4 Councilman Tony Young will continue to serve as Council President Pro Tem, acting as president and as council chair in the absence of Peters.
In addition, city councilmembers who won the primary election in June were sworn into office Dec. 4 at the council’s inauguration ceremony. Newly elected officials include Faulconer (District 2), Donna Frye (District 6), Hueso (District 8) and Young (District 4).

Curves hosts weight-loss challenge
Curves San Diego is hopping on the New Year’s weight-loss bandwagon by offering “Curves San Diego Slim Down,” a six-week weight loss challenge. The winners will be eligible for more than $4,000 in prizes, including a $1,500 shopping spree from Simon Shopping Malls. The challenge is open to members and nonmembers.
Four individuals will be selected from all participant entries received by the end of December to have their progress tracked on KGTV Ch. 10 and 10News.com throughout the six weeks.
Participating locations include the University City Curves at UC Marketplace, 3316 Governor Drive.
To register, visit the Web sites www.10news.com or www.sdcurves.com.
The challenge is based on the Curves 6 Week Solution. Participants will focus on exercise and diet programs designed to boost metabolism, drop body fat, increase muscle and improve overall health.
Curves offers 30-minute workouts that combine strength training and sustained cardiovascular activity through safe and effective hydraulic resistance, a Curves press release. For information, visit www.sdcurves.com.