When, How To Recycle Your Christmas Trees In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — With Christmas Day come and gone, some people like to remove their Christmas trees right away, while others may want to keep them up for a while. But it really depends on the condition of the tree.

When you got the tree, what condition it was in at that time and how much it was watered factor into when you should take the tree to the curb. The National Fire Protection Association recommends getting rid of trees immediately or when they get dry. Dried-out trees can catch fire more easily.

Christmas trees are biodegradable, which means recycled or reused for mulch and other purposes. For City of Alexandria trash collection customers, Christmas trees are collected curbside and recycled.

Trees should be set out at your collection point by 6 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. All ornaments, tinsel and stands should be removed, and trees should not be bagged. The recycled trees will be turned into mulch and will be available to residents in the spring.

Residents receiving private collection services should check with their collector.

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.
• Take your tree to a drop-off recycling center. Check with facilities for items they collect and prices.
• 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.