Arlington County to Begin Collecting Christmas Trees Monday for Recycling

During the first two full weeks in January, Christmas trees are collected curbside for residential homes with trash and recycling service. Curbside collection begins Monday, Jan. 5. After Jan. 16, trees will not be recycled, but will be collected as trash on your regular trash collection day.

Residents are reminded to place the tree on the curb no later than 6 a.m. on your regular trash collection day and to remove all decorations, nails, stands and plastic bags. The trees are later ground into wood mulch for garden use.

Christmas Tree Drop-Off

Residents who don’t have curbside recycling service, such as those living in townhomes, apartments or condominiums, may also bring their Christmas trees to the Solid Waste Bureau during the Christmas tree collection season.

Call 703-228-6570 to schedule an appointment, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Residents will need to show proof of residence in Arlington, such as a driver’s license.

Other recycling options, from the National Christmas Tree Association:

Soil erosion barriers: Some communities use Christmas trees to make effective sand and soil erosion barriers, especially for lake and river shoreline stabilization and river delta sedimentation management. Read about how Christmas trees are helping the sand dunes in New Jersey recover from Hurricane Sandy.

Fish feeders: Sunk into private fish ponds, trees make an excellent refuge and feeding area for fish.

Bird feeders: Place the Christmas tree in the garden or backyard and use it as a bird feeder and sanctuary. Fresh orange slices or strung popcorn will attract the birds and they can sit in the branches for shelter. (Make sure all decorations, hooks, garland and tinsel strands are removed). Eventually (within a year) the branches will become brittle and you can break the tree apart by hand or chip it in a chipper. See this article from Perdue University for more information.

Mulch: A Christmas tree is biodegradable; its branches may be removed, chipped, and used as mulch in the garden. If you have a neighbor with a chipper, see if he will chip it for you.

Paths for hiking trails: Some counties use the shredded trees as a free, renewable and natural path material that fits both the environment and the needs of hikers!

Living, rooted trees: Of course, next year, you could get a rooted (ball and burlap or containerized) tree and then plant it in your yard after Christmas. (It’s a good idea to pre-dig the hole in the late fall while the soil is still soft, then plant the tree into that hole immediately after Christmas.) Living trees have a better survival rate in mild climates.

Important: Never burn your Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove.