Trash for Christmas Trees: How One Act of Kindness Turned Into a Holiday Tradition
She thanked me 10 times, she couldn’t stop crying,” Errol Segal said. I decided after that this is a good thing do.
[Dec 3, 2021: Kathy Vara]
"She thanked me 10 times, she couldn’t stop crying," Segal said. “I decided after that this is a good thing do.” (CREDIT: Creative Commons)
Years ago Errol Segal, of Active Recycling in Historic Couth Central, bought a Christmas tree for a customer who couldn't afford one.
"She thanked me 10 times, she couldn’t stop crying," Segal said. “I decided after that this is a good thing do.”
To discourage illegal dumping, he asked for one thing: Bring your trash, and get a tree.
Customers were asked to bring in "iron, cardboard, newspaper, copper, brass, aluminum, and more" at the center located at 2000 W. Slauson Ave.
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For Dec. 3 only, Segal let customers dump up to 500 pounds of trash for free and get a tree. He had 1,000 to give away Friday morning while supplies lasted.
"The price of trees is very expensive due to fires, drought, and transport. They are expensive this year," Segal said.
A couple in Hawthorne got their free tree after Segal said to bring all the cardboard they could find.
“This one’s calling my name," Precious said as she picked out her tree.
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Tags: #Good_News, #Kindness, #Christmas, #Generosity, #Trees, #Recycling, #Donations, #The_Brighter_Side_of_News
Joseph Shavit
Science News Writer, Editor-At-Large and Publisher
Joseph Shavit, based in Los Angeles, is a seasoned science journalist, editor and co-founder of The Brighter Side of News, where he transforms complex discoveries into clear, engaging stories for general readers. With experience at major media groups like Times Mirror and Tribune, he writes with both authority and curiosity. His work spans astronomy, physics, quantum mechanics, climate change, artificial intelligence, health, and medicine. Known for linking breakthroughs to real-world markets, he highlights how research transitions into products and industries that shape daily life.