'Cycle of life': Dozens of old Christmas trees used for Milwaukee plots, gardens during 4th annual Mulch-o-Rama event

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Dozens of old Christmas trees were given a second chance at life Saturday morning, Jan. 10, during the fourth annual Mulch-o-Rama event in Milwaukee.

Participants brought their tree from home to the Department of Public Works which then converted the trees into mulch for city plots and gardens.

District 13 Alderman Scott Spiker said it's a way to keep going green while highlighting sustainability.

"You have a real tree which you can put in the cycle of life again, mulch it up at the end of the year after your family's done with it, and then instead of just sitting in a landfill or something it can go to use here in the gardens so it can bring new life," Ald. Spiker said. "But if you're at all environmentally inclined, if you're at all community inclined, this is a good thing both for you and the district."

Last year, workers mulched 65 trees. This year, they're aiming to beat that number.

"We use the mulch for plots and gardens here right in the Garden District community garden space," Ald. Spiker said. "What we're trying to do here is more than gardens, we're trying to grow community, and this is part of it."

If you missed Saturday's drop off, officials said you still have a chance to do so.

They plan to hold more events in the spring and summer.