Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- December 9, 2008

What's "greener": live or artificial Christmas trees? (:46)

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Suggested Intro:

CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT HAS MANY PEOPLE AVOIDING NATURAL CHRISTMAS TREES FOR THE ARTIFICIAL VARIETY. A CHRISTMAS TREE EXPERT IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS REAL TREES MAY BE "GREENER" THAN YOU THINK. GARY ABDULLAH HAS THE STORY:

Story:

(:16) FOR SOME PEOPLE, CHRISTMAS SPIRIT CAN CLASH WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIENCE, AS THEY TRY TO WEIGH FAMILY TRADITIONS AGAINST THE ECOLOGICAL EXPENSE OF CUTTING DOWN A LIVING TREE FOR THE SHORT HOLIDAY SEASON. PENN STATE HORTICULTURIST RICK BATES SAYS ANYONE WRESTLING WITH THE CHOICES SHOULD KNOW THE ACTUAL COSTS:

Bates Actuality:
(:19) "AN ARTIFICIAL TREE'S GOING TO BE PRODUCED IN A FACTORY, GENERALLY OVERSEAS. IT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE SHIPPED HERE. THERE IS A PETROLEUM PRODUCT THAT USUALLY USED FOR THE NEEDLES. WHEN WE'RE DONE USING IT, EVEN THOUGH WE MAY GET MANY YEARS OF USE OUT OF IT, IT'S GONNA GO INTO THE LANDFILL, AND IT'S NOT GONNA GO AWAY. A LIVE TREE IS A RENEWABLE, RECYCLABLE PRODUCT..."

(:11) BATES SAYS UP TO 75 PERCENT OF ALL LIVE TREES CONSUMED IN THIS COUNTRY ARE RECYCLED INTO MULCHES AND OTHER PRODUCTS USED IN LANDSCAPES, PONDS AND STREAM RIPARIAN AREAS. FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.

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Learn more:

"Why It's Good to Buy a Real Christmas Tree" (from the College of Agricultural Sciences news archive)

Pennsylvania Impact: Enhancing Profits and the Environment with Trees

 

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