Recycle your Christmas trees

As the holiday wraps up and it is time to break down the decorations, local waste management agencies are making it easier for residents to dispose of their trees.
Depending on the area of the county you live in, there are several options, and just a few guidelines, to help recycle trees the proper way.
“We have a set schedule when all of the trees will be picked up from certain cities or if it is not available then there are drop off locations available,” said The Ratto Group Recycle Coordinator Hillary Shepard.
Residents willing to wait until after the first of the year to take their tree down can place their whole, unflocked tree beside waste containers for pick up on their regularly scheduled collection day. Check the schedule to make sure this service is offered in your area and what days it will be available.
For those that can’t get the tree to the curb on the scheduled days can cut their tree into 4-foot sections and dispose of it in their green yard waste containers. Tree parts cannot stick out of the container in order to avoid interference with the lifting arm on the truck. Christmas and New Year’s Day both fall on Tuesday this year so during those weeks, customers with collection service on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will be delayed one day.
There are a few dates left to give back this holiday season by setting up a pick-up from a local non-profit in your area. Tree pick up dates are Dec. 29, 30 and Jan. 5, 6, 12 and 13. The suggested donation for service is $7 for small trees and $10 for large trees. The automated scheduling system is currently available by calling 565-3333. Appointments must be made before January 11.
Drop off locations are also available beginning the day after Christmas for those that have more than one tree to dispose of. A list of drop off locations can be found at the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency.
When breaking down a Christmas tree for recycling, all lights, decorations, tinsel and stand must be removed. Only bare trees are accepted, flocked trees cannot be recycled.
“The most important thing is that we don’t take flocked trees, so if your tree is flocked, you will have to call customer service and we can give you locations of where to drop them off,” said Shepard.
Whether trees are picked up, dropped off or chopped up, all three recycling options will help Sonoma Compost Company this year as they turn recycled trees into mulch and compost. Finished compost products can be purchased after the holidays at the Sonoma Compost Company in Petaluma.
Trees that are not taken down after the holiday season become a higher risk for catching fire.
According to the Sonoma County Fire Prevention Office, “the longer Christmas trees are in the home, the more they dry out and increasingly become fire hazards. Removing the trees from your home and properly disposing of it as soon as possible will minimize the risk of a treasured holiday season becoming a tragic one.”
For more information on holiday recycling, visit www.recyclenow.org or call 585-0291.