During the week, residents of Kazan handed over 1,500 coniferous trees for processing

The campaign for the collection and processing of coniferous trees began on January 13. Fourteen collection points will work 24/7 in all districts of the city until January 31. One of the points is located at Razvedchika Akhmerova Street. Mayor Ilsur Metshin instected the work of this point.

«We dream that all people would have artificial New Year trees instead of cutting down real trees for one of our most beloved holidays. We are working hard to reduce household waste, which is increasing: after the Millennium of Kazan, 600 tons of garbage were collected in 2005; today, we collect up to 2,000 tons every day. Used New Year trees will increase the problem. It’s better if they continue to grow, purifying the air and providing the green framework for our city», – said the Mayor.

He noted that before the New Year, it is important to take action to protect trees. «The holidays last for two weeks, we bring this natural wonder into our homes, and then we utilize it. New technologies can make artificial New Year trees smell just like real ones, and they can be used for many years, which is one of their advantages», – the Mayor added.

Each collection point is fenced off with a QR code that can be scanned by a Telegram bot. This provides information about the event and the addresses of the reception points.

In the first week, approximately 1,500 trees were collected. These trees are then transported to a recycling collection point located on Vasilchenko Street. At this point, the trees are shredded and stored in containers for recycling. Some of the wood chips will be utilized for mulching soil and pathways. As part of an experimental process, some of these chips are being composted to fertilize the beds in the public garden located in the Uritsky park. If the results are positive, the organizers plan to continue this experience in 2026. This year, organizers anticipate that the volume of trees commissioned will be significantly larger, significantly reducing the burden on landfills.

Twenty-five volunteers have joined the campaign. Each of them has a collection point, where they inspect the trees and remove any decorations or packaging.

At one of the collection points, there are several volunteers on duty. One of the volunteers said that she had been participating in the campaign for two years and was pleased that the initiative had been expanded to all districts in the city. The Mayor thanked the volunteers for their work.