Christmas tree recycling starts this weekend

Why it matters: It's illegal to landfill organic matter in Illinois, because it creates methane, a damaging greenhouse gas.

What they're saying: "This is just one of the ways the City encourages residents to divert material from the waste stream, so it can be converted to resources and nourishment for the soil, thereby helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Streets and Sanitation commissioner Cole Stallard said in a press release.

Details: The program mulched nearly 20,000 trees last year to keep about 700,000 pounds of tree matter from landfills, according to DSS.

• Several locations, including six in Chicago, are offering mulch to the public starting Jan. 10.