Dates Announced For Christmas Tree Recycling In Greenwich

Information via Greenwich Department of Parks and Recreation

GREENWICH, CT — The Department of Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce that residents may begin to bring their Christmas trees for recycling starting Dec. 26, 2020. Christmas tree recycling will end on Jan. 31, 2021.

All tress must be undecorated, with ornaments, tinsel, lights and stands removed, to be recycled, according to a news release. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

The Parks & Trees Division will be recycling resident's Christmas trees by chipping them. The wood chips can be used by residents as mulch or compost. Tree chips retained by the town will be used in parks as mulch for trails in woodlands, shrub beds and soil stabilization.

Nationally Christmas trees are recycled for five main types of large-scale uses:

• Chipping; chips to be used for mulch or compost
• Beachfront erosion prevention
• Lake and river shore stabilization
• Fish habitat; trees are sunk in lakes to serve as cover for young fish and sustaining insects
• River delta sedimentation management

Homeowners may also consider retaining their Christmas trees for domestic uses, such as:

• Songbird and wildlife habitat: Christmas trees placed near bird feeding areas are used by the visiting birds as shelter from the wind and cold, and as protective cover from predators while consuming the bird food. Trees can also be ‘decorated’ by hanging peanut butter filled pine cones, suet and seed mixes, or fruit.
• Erosion control: Whole trees can be placed in gullied areas to prevent or slow erosion.
• Flower bed protection: Boughs can be cut off the trees to place on flower beds to protect roots and bulbs from winter cold in a decorative way.

These are just a few ways trees can be recycled without the energy expense of mechanized chipping. If you have any other ideas about recycling Christmas trees, we would appreciate you sharing them with us.

Although we will continue to make every effort to provide a healthy environment, PLEASE MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS, BASED ON YOUR PERSONAL RISK PROFILE, ON WHETHER TO EXPOSE YOURSELF TO OTHERS BY VISITING THE RECYCLING LOCATIONS.

We will continue to provide service during this heightened alert period as long as everyone obeys the above safety practices. We will continue to monitor the recommendations by the CDC, local, state and national authorities and keep you updated on changes.

IF YOU, A FAMILY MEMBER OR SOMEONE YOU HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HAS RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS, PARTICULARLY A FEVER, DO NOT VISIT THE PARK.

Christmas Tree Collection Sites

• Byram Park: Parking lot by the concession - 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Bruce Park: Parking lot by the children's playground, opposite entrance to Bruce Museum - 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Greenwich Point: Parking lot across from the Nature Center - 6 a.m. until sunset
• Holly Hill Recycling Center: Place trees in the yard waste area - 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays

Wood chips will be available to residents at each collection site. No trees will be accepted after Jan. 31, 2021.