Christmas tree recycling: a recipe for making mulch

provided by the City of San Diego Dept. of Environmental Services

fter Christmas, thousands of Christmas trees will be sliced, minced and diced into a rich mulch that makes a savory topping on city parks, schoolyards and roadways. In the 24th annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program, citizens can bring trees to any of 30 drop-off locations throughout the city from December 27th, 1995 through January 16th, 1996.

"Our Christmas Tree Recycling Program is popular because it offers citizens an easy and environmentally sensitive way to dispose of their trees after the holidays," said City Environmental Services Department Director Richard L. Hays. "Last year, over 124,000 holiday trees were diverted from the city landfill alone," Hays said.

Not only do the recycled Christmas trees save precious landfill space, but also they provide an aromatic ground cover that reduces soil erosion and deters weed growth. The mulch is available to the public free of charge at the Miramar Landfill Greenery.

"Each year, many trees are carelessly - and illegally - abandoned on city streets or dumped into canyons," said Environmental Services Deputy Director Helen L. Heim. "With our 3 drop-off locations this year, recycling them is really the most convenient way to dispose of the trees," she said.

Trees should be brought to the drop-off sites during daylight hours only, and should be free of all ornaments, tree stands, and nails. Flocked trees (decorated with fake snow) cannot be recycled and will not be accepted at the drop-off sites.

Recycling posters and flyers with complete drop-off site listings will be posted at Christmas tree lots, retail outlets and public libraries throughout San Diego.

Residents with curbside greenery recycling must cut their trees into sections less than 4 feet in length and place them at the curb with their regular greenery recycling.

San Diego's Regional Christmas Tree Recycling Program is sponsored jointly by the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department and I Love A Clean San Diego County, Inc. For more information, call the I Love a Clean San Diego Recycling Hotline at (619) 467-0903 or 1-800-237-2583.