City adjusts garbage pickup

Garbage collection days in Casper will be shifted the weeks of Christmas and New Year's.

With the exception of regular Monday pickups, garbage collection will be delayed one day. Tuesday route garbage will be collected on Wednesday, Wednesday route on Thursday, Thursday route on Friday, and Friday route on Saturday.

City ordinance requires users to bag and securely tie and close bags, and with the increase in trash over the holiday season, officials are urging residents to help with the pickup.

"The combination of the increase in trash and the strong winds can quickly create a significant litter problem, and bagging trash prevents that," said Cindie Langston, solid waste division manager.

The landfill will be open on Monday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will hold normal hours (7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) on Dec. 31. The landfill will be closed on Christmas and New Year's Day.

For more information, visit www.casperwy.gov.

Elks host children, Santa

The traditional Christmas Eve party for all children is at 11 a.m., on Monday at the Casper Elks Lodge, 108 E. 7th St., on the corner of Center and 7th.

Children will watch holiday cartoons and sing Christmas carols as they wait for the arrival of Santa in the upstairs ballroom.

Each child has the opportunity to visit with Santa one final time and receive a bag of traditional Christmas treats, fresh fruit, candy and nuts, as they leave.

Casper Elks have hosted the party in Casper with very few modifications each Christmas Eve for more than 80 years.

City provides Christmas tree recycling

There are five places to take your unwanted Christmas tree this year.

Roughly 20 percent of garbage in the city's landfill is tree branches and yard waste, said Cindie Langston, solid waste division manager.

"Yard waste takes up needed space instead of being returned to the environment for beneficial use," Langston said.

The trees are taken to the compost facility at the landfill and used to produce compost and wood chips. These are used to maintain the city's parks and other beautification of green spaces in Casper.

The Christmas tree drop-off points are available until the end of January and are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trees need to be free of tinsel, lights, ornaments and stands.

Drop-off points are located at: the far west side of Paradise Valley Pool on Iris, Mike Sedar Park behind Fire Station #2, 13th Street Ballfield, North Casper recycling depots and Viking Court.