When, How To Recycle Christmas Trees In Arlington

ARLINGTON, VA -- Arlington County begins collecting Christmas trees on Thursday, Dec. 26. Trees are collected on regular Monday-Friday trash days and will be turned into mulch, which will be available from Arlington County facilities.

Residents are asked to place their trees at the curb no later than 6 a.m. on their regular trash collection day. All decorations, nails, stands and plastic bags must be removed.

After Jan. 10, Arlington County will handle all Christmas trees as part of the regular year-round trash pickup. Trees will be turned into mulch. The county asks that all trees over 8-feet in length be dismantled.

Residents without regular curbside pickup can bring their Christmas trees to the Solid Waste Bureau’s Earth Products Yard in Shirlington. People dropping off trees will need to provide proof of residence in Arlington. For a safe drop-off, residents are encouraged to call 703-228-5000 to schedule an appointment, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Here is the holiday schedule for trash pickup and recycling:

• Trash/Recycling/Yard Waste Curbside Routes – None Jan. 1; Wednesday routes will run Thursday; Thursday’s routes on Friday; Friday’s on Saturday
• Special Collections (Brush, Metal, E-waste) – None Jan. 1; Wednesday collections will take place Thursday; Thursday’s collections on Friday; Friday’s on Saturday
• Mulch Delivery – None Jan. 1
• Customer Contact Center – Closed Jan. 1
• HHM Facility and ECRC – Closed Jan. 1

Here are some ways to recycle trees from the National Christmas Tree Association:

• Christmas trees are biodegradable, which means recycled or reused for mulch and other purposes. Here are some ways to recycle trees from the National Christmas Tree Association:
• Curbside pick-up for recycling: Many providers will collect trees during regular pickup schedules on the two weeks following Christmas. There are often requirements for size, removing ornaments, flocking, etc.
• Yard waste: Cut the tree to fit loosely into your yard waste container.
• Tree recycling/mulching programs: Tree recycling and mulching programs are a fast-growing trend in communities throughout the nation. Check with your local department of public works for information. They chip and shred the trees, then make the mulch available for use in your garden. Your hauler will notify you of pick-up dates in your area. Be sure to check with your local hauler.
• Nonprofit pickup: Call for an appointment to have a nonprofit organization in your area pickup your tree. Some Boy Scout troops offer a pickup service for a small donation.