HERCULANEUM, Mo. (April 26, 2017) – The Doe Run Company (Doe Run) donated $5,000 for the purchase of trees for Herculaneum, Missouri, in preparation for the city’s celebration of Arbor Day and its 10th year as a Tree City USA designee on Friday, April 28. This also marks the 10th year Doe Run has donated trees to the city.

The Arbor Day and Tree City USA Celebration will take place at 1 p.m. at Herculaneum City Park. Herculaneum High School students also will present music and readings, and fifth graders will be given awards for their Arbor Day poster contest.

Doe Run’s donation will allow for Herculaneum to continue to boost the ecosystem of the community by buying and planting trees native to the region. So far, 17 trees have been purchased with this year’s donation and will be planted in the community throughout 2017.

“We are thankful that Doe Run continues to be an active contributor to the initiative to make our city a healthier place to live,” said Jim Kasten, city administrator for Herculaneum. “Our tree board and community Tree Care Ordinance has helped Herculaneum build and maintain a nurturing environment for our region’s natural beauty, and we know these efforts combined with community support have directly resulted in our selection as a Tree City USA designee for an entire decade.”

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), the state of Missouri is the seventh most forested state in the northeastern United States with more than 14 million acres of forest land. Trees protect the land from erosion, supply oxygen and filter carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In just one day a single tree can absorb 100 gallons of water and discharge it into the air.

Consistent planting of trees is especially important in high traffic areas, such as parks and city landscapes, like in Herculaneum. A tree in Missouri’s rural forests can live up to 150 years, but that lifespan is reduced to 25 to 50 years in a high traffic area. These trees must be continuously planted and cultivated to sustain the natural environment.

Experts from the MDC are available, free of charge, to help landowners make the right decisions about the stewardship of trees on their property. Visit http://www.mdc.mo.gov/your-property to find your local MDC office and learn more about caring for trees on your property.

About The Doe Run Company

Based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, The Doe Run Company is a privately held natural resources company and a global provider of lead, copper and zinc concentrates. Dedicated to environmentally responsible mineral and metal production, Doe Run operates one of the world’s largest, single-site lead recycling centers, located in Boss, Missouri, and mines from one of the world’s largest lead mining districts, also in Missouri. The Doe Run Company and its subsidiaries deliver products and services necessary to provide power, protection and convenience. Doe Run has operations in Missouri, Washington and Arizona. For more information, visit www.doerun.com and http://sustainability.doerun.com.