Don’t Forget to Recycle Your Holiday Tree!

This holiday season, the County of San Diego and I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) remind residents to recycle their holiday trees and foliage. Trees and yard trimmings are easily recyclable into mulch and compost.  Finding out how to recycle holiday trees is quick and convenient when you visit the County’s Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste database at www.WasteFreeSD.org or call 1-877-R-1-EARTH (1-877-713-2784). While you are there, learn how and where to recycle your tree as well as hundreds of other items.

Recycling your holiday tree conserves natural resources and preserves the capacity of local landfills.  The compost and mulch made from trees and other yard trimmings are used to improve soil health at residences, public parks, and local farms.  There are many ways to make your holidays more eco-friendly, like recycling wrapping paper and gift boxes, but often people forget that their tree can be recycled too! According to the National Christmas Tree Association, 25-30 million holiday trees are sold each year in the United States.

Most waste haulers offer special holiday tree recycling programs to pick up trees with yard waste on regular collection days. In addition to curbside pick-up, tree drop-off sites are located in several places in the City of San Diego.  A complete list of tree recycling locations is also available at www.WasteFreeSD.org.

I Love A Clean San Diego operates San Diego County’s official recycling website and call center which refers thousands of residents to the proper facilities to recycle or dispose of just about anything. From broken surfboards to wine corks, batteries to cooking oil, WasteFreeSD makes recycling quick and convenient. San Diego County residents can go to: www.WasteFreeSD.org or call 1-877-R-1-EARTH to learn how to recycle their holiday trees as well as hundreds of other items.

Before recycling your holiday tree, review this list of recycling tips to ensure that your tree is recycled properly:

·         Trees taller than four feet should be cut in half.
·         All tree stands, nails and tree decorations must be removed.
·         Check with your local hauler to see if they accept flocked trees (most do not).

City of San Diego residents please call (858) 694-7000 for more information.

For Residential Curbside Pick Up From December 26, 2013 – January 23, 2014.  
Manual container customers using your own bins should place trees on the curb for collection on your regular greenery recycling pickup day. Trees over four feet in length should be cut in half.

Automated container customers using the large, green 96-gallon bin provided by the city should cut their trees to fit into the automated container for pickup on collection day.

Christmas Tree Residential Recycling Drop-off Sites
• Drop off trees during daylight hours only
• No ornaments, trash, or tree stands
• Flocked trees are accepted, artificial trees are not accepted
• No commercial loads or fundraising loads
La Jolla Kate Sessions Park, 5115 Soledad Road
Miramar Landfill and Greenery Recycling, 5180 Convoy Street, north of Highway 52
Mission Bay Dirt lot at corner of Sea World Drive and Pacific Highway
Ocean Beach Robb Field Recreation Center, 2525 Bacon Street
Tierrasanta De Portola Middle School, 11010 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
University City Swanson Pool, 3585 Governor Drive