When Christmas is over, don't assume that you can just take that Christmas tree down and put it out on the street. Christmas trees need to be recycled and are generally not picked up with your regular trash.
When recycling your Christmas tree, it is important to remove any decorations, icicles, lights, garlands, tinsel, wrapping paper, hooks and tree stands. These instructions are not for artificial trees. Those should be donated to a local charitable organization.
Every city and town in the metro Phoenix area has its own recycling plan and process. Here is what you need to know about disposal of your Christmas tree after the holidays.
Residents of Avondale can recycle their live Christmas trees. Trees must be free of all decorations including lights, bulbs, ribbon and garland. This service is offered to Avondale residents at no charge. Trees can be dropped off at the City of Avondale Municipal Operations Service Center, 395 E. Lower Buckeye, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 26 through Jan. 6, with the exception of Jan. 1 when this Service Center will be closed in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday. For more information about Christmas tree recycling, call Avondale’s Field Operations Department at 623-333-4700. (2008)
Buckeye will offer a curbside Christmas tree collection program. Residents whose recyclables and solid waste are collected on Mondays and Thursdays should have their Christmas trees curbside on Saturday, Dec. 27, Saturday, Jan., 3 or Saturday, Jan. 10. Residents whose recyclables and solid waste collections are on Tuesdays and Fridays should have their trees at the curb on Wednesday, Dec. 31, Wednesday, Jan. 7 or Wednesday, Jan. 14. Once the trees are placed curbside, residents are asked to leave them at the curb until they are collected. For more information call the Buckeye Public Works Department at 623-349-6805. (2008)
City of Chandler residents can place their trees at the edge of their driveway before 6 a.m. on their recycling collection day (between 12/26/08 and 01/16/09) for curbside Christmas tree collection. Please do not block the sidewalk or place the tree in the blue recycling container, or place tree in the street or alley. Please do no place tree in refuse, recycle or alley container. Chandler also offers 10 drop-off points (December 26, 2008 thru January 18, 2009) for Christmas trees. For more information, call Chandler's Solid Waste Services at 480-782-3510. (2008)
Town of Gilbert residents have three drop-off points for Christmas trees: A to Z Rentals at 1313 E. Baseline Road; Gilbert Soccer Complex at 4260 S. Greenfield Road; Nichols Park at 700 N. Higley Road. Do not wrap trees in plastic. Trees may be dropped off starting the day after Christmas through the first Sunday in January. Gilbert residents also can donate their living Christmas trees. Living trees can be dropped off at the Parks Maintenance Facility located at 658 North Freestone Parkway or Parks staff can pick-up a donation. To schedule a pick-up call 480-503-6274. For more information, call 480-503-6400 or visit Gilbert online. (2007)
Residents of the City of Goodyear are no longer required to take their Christmas trees to a drop off site. Your tree must be placed out on the curb for collection no later than 6 a.m. per specific zone schedules. Christmas trees must be separated from your bulk items. Weekly bulk trash will be collected as normally scheduled. Your tree will only be collected if Christmas lights, tree ornaments, and tree stands are removed from the tree. Please do not place artificial trees out for this service. All recycled Christmas trees are composted and chipped and spread out at a local farm. The City will also provide extra roll-offs for residents to use for their extra holiday packaging. They will be located at the Moose Lodge, PebbleCreek, as well as an additional container at Estrella. They will be available for use from Wednesday, December 24 to January 8th. All items accepted in our curbside recycling program will be accepted at these locations. (2008)
The City of Glendale, AZ allows residents to bring one unbagged tree to one of their drop-off points as follows: Acoma Park, 53rd Ave. & Acoma Rd.; Fire Station No. 156, 67th Ave. & Deer Valley Rd.; Western Area Regional Park, 83rd Ave. & Bethany Home Rd.; Foothills Park, 57th Ave. & Union Hills; Sahuaro Ranch Park, Southeast corner of 63rd Ave. & Mountain View Rd.; O’Neill Park, 64th Ave. & Missouri Ave.; Rose Lane Park, 51st Ave. and Marlette Ave. The drop-off is available from Friday, Dec. 26, through Sunday, Jan. 11. Call 623-930-2660 for more information. (2008)
The City of Mesa offers five drop-off points for Christmas trees which are open 24 hours from December 26 through January 11. Curbside pickup may be available for a fee. Call Mesa's Solid Waste Management Department at 480-644-2688. Collected trees are taken to the Salt River Landfill and chipped into nutrient rich mulch. Here are the details about the Mesa Christmas Tree Recycling Program. If you participate in the Green Barrel Program you can use it to dispose of your tree as long as it fits completely inside the container with the lid properly closed. Mesa also accepts donations of live potted trees, which are planted in Mesa City parks. Live trees five feet or taller will be accepted at any Mesa Fire Station. (2008)
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