Residents are asked to take part in a holiday “tree-dition” by recycling their fresh cut Christmas trees on Wednesday, January 10. Trees should be placed out curbside no later than 7:00 a.m. on this special scheduled collection day.

Here are guidelines to help residents prepare their Christmas tree for collection:

• Strip of all decorations, nails and stands before being placed out for collection;

• Trees longer than six feet should be cut in half.

• Do not wrap tree in plastic.

• Place tree on the front curb for collection; no trees will be picked up in alleys.

• Flocked trees will be accepted.

All trees collected will be taken to the Bitters Brush Recycling Center, 1800 Bitters Road, and shredded into pine mulch. The mulch from Christmas trees will be available to the public for free on a “first come, first serve” basis beginning, Saturday, January 20, at the Bitters Brush Recycling Center. Residents will be asked to present a recent CPS Energy bill indicating the City’s solid waste payment fee and a driver’s license to validate residency and avoid being charged a service fee. The brush center is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mulch helps control weed growth, insulates the soil, conserves water and provides beneficial microorganisms to bedding plants.

Residents who miss the January 10 recycle day can take their Christmas trees to the Bitters Road Brush Recycling Center free of charge, with identification as a City Solid Waste rate payer. Residents may only drop off their Christmas trees free of charge; fees will be charged for additional brush.
Each year, the City recycles more than 28,000 trees, saving valuable landfill space and preserving natural resources.

For more information on Christmas tree recycling and obtaining free pine mulch, call 3-1-1.