Christmas tree of bottles sparkles in Lithuania

By: 11 years ago

Goda Valukonyte poses by the bottle Christmas tree in Agariniu village, Lazdijai district, some 176 kilometers (110 miles) from Vilnius, Lithuania, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. Lithuanian policeman Dalius Valukonis says he spent three years and hundreds of hours of his free time to create the tree using bottles he got from local restaurants, bars, family and friends. AP

VILNIUS, Lithuania — Here’s a recycling project just for the holidays: A 4-meter (13.2-feet) tall Christmas tree made of 1,100 empty bottles of champagne and sparkling water.

Lithuanian policeman Dalius Valukonis says he spent three years and hundreds of hours of his free time to create the tree using bottles he got from restaurants, bars, family and friends.

The non-drinker said Saturday a metal structure with special hooks and construction foam holds the bottles in place. It’s an eye-catcher that makes motorists in the town of Lazdijai near the Polish border snap pictures.

Valukonis says he intends to build something even more impressive next year.