The holiday spirit in Denver continues past Christmas with a push for environmental friendliness, as the "Treecycle" program invites residents to recycle their holiday trees. Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has informed that locals can drop off their festive trees at several designated sites which began on December 26. The trees will be repurposed into mulch, contributing to the city's green initiatives. Participants are reminded to strip their trees of all adornments and stands before disposal, as detailed by the City and County of Denver.
Running now through January 31, the Treecycle drop sites operate on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., excluding January 1 and 20 due to holiday observances. The cast-off trees, seeking a second life as part of a more sustainable cycle, can be dropped off at locations such as the Cherry Creek Transfer Station, Havana Nursery, and the Central Platte Campus. The Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has also set up additional drop sites that will be available on select Saturdays in January.
For individuals looking to offload their trees on weekends, five locations will be open on January 4, and on January 11 and 18, the number of sites will expand to ten. Some of the Saturday locations include Sloan’s Lake Park, the Evie Dennis School Campus, and Carson Elementary, with extended hours until 4:00 p.m. at certain sites. Residents who prefer not to participate in Treecycle, though their participation is highly encouraged, can opt to leave their trees out during large item pickup days. However, it should be noted that trees collected this way will not be reincarnated into mulch.
Adding to the Treecycle program, Denverites also have the opportunity to recycle their spent holiday lights. Broken or burned-out lights can be deposited for free at the Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-Off or Blue Star Recyclers until January 2 as noted, seeking to give a new purpose to the garlands that once brightened our homes and streets. It's important to keep in mind, as they degrade, holiday lights are not to be placed in purple recycling carts, but must be taken to the appropriate recycling venues.
In the spring, the mulch produced from the Treecycle program will be available at a free giveaway event for Denver residents, as an incentive to continue the recycling efforts. This initiative not only reduces waste but also provides resources for gardening and landscaping, closing the loop on holiday sustainability. To learn more or to find a complete list of drop-off sites and hours, residents can visit the Treecycle 2024 website. The program demonstrates Denver's commitment to the environment and offers an easy way for citizens to contribute to the city’s greener future.
