Recycling tips for holiday trees

San Diego County – This holiday season, the County of San Diego and I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) remind residents to recycle their holiday trees and foliage. Trees and yard trimmings are easily recyclable into mulch and compost.

Finding out how to recycle holiday trees is quick and convenient when you visit the County’s Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste database at www.WasteFreeSD.org or call 1-877-R-1-EARTH (1-877-713-2784). While you are there, learn how and where to recycle your tree as well as hundreds of other items.

Throwing away your holiday tree needlessly wastes a natural resource and decreases the capacity of local landfills. The compost and mulch made from trees and other yard trimmings are then used to improve soil health at residences, public parks, and local farms. There are many ways to make your holidays more eco-friendly, like recycling wrapping paper and gift boxes, but often people forget that their tree can be recycled too! According to the National Christmas Tree Association, 25-30 million holiday trees are sold each year in the United States.

Most waste haulers offer special holiday tree recycling programs to pick up trees with yard waste on regular collection days. In addition to curbside pick-up, tree drop-off sites are located in the communities of Bonsall and Fallbrook. A complete list of tree recycling locations is also available at www.WasteFreeSD.org.

Before recycling your holiday tree, review this list of recycling tips to ensure that your tree is recycled properly:

·Trees taller than four feet should be cut in half.

·All tree stands, nails and tree decorations must be removed.

·Check with your local hauler to see if they accept flocked trees (most do not).