COAST CITIES —To prepare your Christmas tree for recycling simply remove all ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand.
EDCO, which serves Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas and Solana Beach, asks residents to recycle their Christmas tree by placing them at the curb on regular collection day through Jan. 10, including flocked trees. Remember to remove all lights and ornaments before recycling your tree. EDCO also asks that trees taller than four feet should be cut in half for collection.
EDCO offers these holiday recycling tips:
— Save wrapping paper and ribbons to reuse next year. Ribbons made from paper can be recycled. Ribbon made from plastic or fabric is not recyclable but can be reused on other packages.
— Cardboard boxes with clear plastic windows can be recycled.
Remember to recycle:
— Christmas cards and wrapping paper: Recycle as mixed paper.
— Styrofoam Packaging: Recycle as mixed paper.
— Gift and cardboard coxes; Flatten boxes and recycle as mixed paper.
— Christmas Trees and Wreaths: Recycle wreaths as green waste in your green-waste container and place Christmas trees curbside for collection.
— Additional recycling carts are available at no additional cost.
For more information, visit edcodisposal.com/.
Drop off extra packaging materials at local private mailing centers. Call the Plastic Loosefill Council Peanuts Hotline at (800) 828-2214 for the names of local businesses that reuse packing peanuts.
The city of Carlsbad and Waste Management is offering free, curbside pickup as well as drop-off bin locations for Christmas trees through Jan. 18. The trees will be recycled and converted into mulch that will be used throughout San Diego County.
Waste Management asks that you cut the tree in half if taller than 6 feet and place at the curb. Tree segments can also be placed in your green-waste container or bundle branches together with twine for collection (bundle should not exceed 4-feet-by-18-inches.). You can also recycle other organic decorations, such as garland and wreathes, as well as wood (no pressure-treated or lead-base painted wood), in your designated green-waste container.
The tree stand, lights and all other decorations must be removed from the tree prior to recycling. Flocked trees are not recyclable and must be disposed of through regular trash service.
For curbside pickup, set the tree at the curb with other yard waste on the normally scheduled collection date.
Carlsbad drop-off bin locations include:
— Calavera Community Park, 2997 Glasgow Drive
— Poinsettia Community Park, 6600 Hidden Valley Road
— Stagecoach Community Park (lower park section), 3420 Camino de los Coches
— Fire Station #1, 1275 Carlsbad Village Drive
— Palomar Transfer Station, 5960 El Camino Real
For more information, contact Waste Management at (760) 929-9400 or visit northcounty.wm.com/christmastree.asp.
Each year, approximately 35 million live Christmas trees are sold in the United States. Recycling the trees helps keep millions of trees out of landfills and returns a renewable resource back to the environment.
If you are uncertain how or where to recycle your Christmas tree, visit search.earth911.com.
