As Christmas celebrations wind down, San Diego residents have an opportunity to be environmentally responsible by recycling their Christmas trees. The city has launched its 50th annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program, providing 16 drop-off locations for residents to dispose of their trees in a green way, as reported by KGTV. The trees collected will not end up as waste, but will instead be transformed into compost, mulch, and wood chips, according to the city's plan.
The program, which started on Tuesday and runs through January 23, 2024, aims to prevent methane emissions from organic waste, which can contribute to global warming. As "if left to decompose in landfills, organic waste, again like Christmas trees, releases methane which is a greenhouse gas, that traps the sun's heat, and warms the atmosphere," Council president Sean Elo-Rivera of District 9 told KGTV. This initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce the material that decomposes in landfills.
Drop-off sites include areas like the Carmel Valley Recreation Center and Standley Community Park, among others, and are open during daylight hours. These locations can be found on the city's website, which lists the specific addresses for easy access. Residents can also avail of the Miramar Greenery to drop off up to two cubic yards of additional yard waste, as stated by the City's website.
The city has successfully recycled approximately 52,153 tons of trees, or 104.3 million pounds, over the past five decades. This year, both green and flocked trees (those with fake snow) are accepted for recycling, however, all decorations such as tree stands, bags, netting, lights, and tinsel must be removed beforehand. Artificial trees cannot be recycled through this program, and residents are urged not to illegally dump any other items at the drop-off locations.
For those who may find drop-off inconvenient, San Diego offers curbside collection for Christmas trees as well. According to the city's policy, trees should be cut to fit into the automated container for pick-up on the regular collection day. For more details on the Christmas Tree Recycling Program including fliers in English and Spanish, residents can visit the City's environmental services website.
