We all love the holidays, and childhood memories are tied around Christmas trees just like the ribbon that adorns them. Whether you are the family that takes your tree down right after Christmas or leaves it up long past New Year’s Day, at some point your tree will be leaving your home. The most sustainable and eco-friendly option is to recycle your beloved tree! Otherwise, it will end up in a landfill amongst non-biodegradable waste. As a result, it won’t decompose properly or allow its nutrients back into the soil. Recycling your tree will also reduce the impact of deforestation! Instead of living, growing trees being cut down for mulch, your recycled tree can be turned into mulch and wood chips instead.
Natural Christmas trees may be recycled into mulch or wood chips for parks or residents, composted, or even used for creating healthier habitats for certain fish. Natural Christmas trees are better for the environment in the long-term. Many town collection services will pick up Christmas trees with regular disposal services. Check your local collection information for more on Christmas tree recycling curbside pickup because news may be released within the next few weeks. In general, trees should be stripped of all decorations and often need to be under 6 feet. If your Christmas tree is over 6 feet, check local guidelines to find out if it is acceptable for curbside pickup as is. Unfortunately, artificial Christmas trees cannot be recycled. If you are looking to get rid of an artificial tree, we suggest donating it so that it can be reused or repurposing it for as long as possible to lessen the carbon footprint created by artificial trees.
Here are a few resources to make it easy for you to recycle your tree in the Triangle area:
CHATHAM COUNTY
Chatham County will have free Christmas tree recycling this year between December 28th and January 19th at the Main Facility, located at 28 County Services Road, Pittsboro.
The Main Facility is open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 3:30 pm (closed on New Year’s Day and MLK Day). If you go before or after the free recycling timeframe, there will be a charge per weight, with a $2 minimum.
http://www.chathamnc.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/16506/15
DURHAM COUNTY
“Yard Waste customers” may place their trees on their curbs between January 3 and February 2 to be collected as part of their regular service. If you are a “Non-Yard Waste customer,” then you must call Durham One Call at 919-560-1200 to request collection.
http://durhamnc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13218
Drop-off locations (with decal):
Parkwood: 5928 Highway 55
Redwood: 100 Electra Road
Bahama: 9008 Quail Roost Road
*Yard waste (including Christmas trees) is not available at Rougemont
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Trees less than 6 feet are categorized as “yard waste” and accepted at the Landfill/Transfer Station: 5 Landfill Road, Franklinton, Franklin County, NC.
The landfill is the only site that accepts yard waste (Off Timberlake Road off of Highway 56 west).
http://www.franklincountync.us/services/solid-waste/convenience-centers
JOHNSTON COUNTY
Residents can bring their Christmas trees to the County Landfill: 680 County Home Road, Smithfield. If you have a Solid Waste Decal, you can bring the tree to the County landfill or any of the twelve Solid Waste Convenience Sites in Johnston county:
McGee's Crossroads: 3805 Stephenson Road, Angier
Meadow: 9349 NC Highway 96 South, Benson
South Johnston: 10580 US Hwy 301 South, Benson
Barber Mill: 369 Barber Mill Road, Clayton
Buffalo Road: 15031 Buffalo Road, Clayton
39/42 Junction: 9527 NC Highway 42 East, Kenly
Oak Grove: 5677 US Highway 301 North, Kenly
701: 820 Stewart Road, Four Oaks
Bentonville: 1096 Scout Road, Four Oaks
Airport: 3505 Swift Creek Road, Smithfield
Brogden: 4141 Steven's Chapel Road, Smithfield
Jones Brothers: 22 Shelter Way, Smithfield
*If you do not have a decal, the tree will be weighed at the landfill. Fee: $18 per ton (minimum fee of $5 usually covers the tree).
http://www.johnstonnc.com/recycling/swcontent.cfm?pageid=trees
ORANGE COUNTY
Walnut Grove Church Road: at intersection of Hwy 86 North, Hillsborough
http://www.orangecountync.gov/departments/solid_waste_management/solid_waste_convenience_centers.php
WAKE COUNTY
Happy Trails Christmas Tree Recycling Program
Wake County Convenience Centers (Hours: 7 days a week from 7 am until 7 pm)
Site 1: 10505 Old Stage Road, Garner
Site 2: 6025 Old Smithfield Road, Apex
Site 4: 3600 Yates Mill Pond Road, Raleigh
Site 11: 5051 Wendell Blvd., Wendell
Wake County Parks (Hours: 7 days a week from 8 am until sunset)
Blue Jay Point County Park: 3200 Pleasant Union Church Road, Raleigh
Harris Lake County Park: 2112 County Park Drive, New Hill
Lake Crabtree County Park: 1400 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville
North Wake Landfill District Park: 9300 Deponie Drive, Raleigh
http://www.wakegov.com/recycling/division/pages/happytrails.aspx
OTHER DROP OFF LOCATIONS
Buffaloe Wood Recycling Facility: 5525 Wake Academy Drive, Raleigh
Carolina Tree Debris: 1417 Old Watkins Road, Raleigh
City of Raleigh Yard Waste Facility: 900 New Hope Road, Raleigh
Currin Brothers Landfill: 4525 Sunset Lake Road, Holly Springs
Rowland Landfill: 3000 Gresham Lake Road, Raleigh
http://www.wakegov.com/recycling/recycle/Pages/yardwaste.aspx
APEX
If you live in Apex and have garbage and recycling pickup, then you can search your address to find out when it can be picked up here: http://www.apexnc.org/277/Garbage-Recycling-Yard-Waste?PREVIEW=YES#!rc-cpage=calendar_search or https://www.apexnc.org/563/Yard-Waste-Collection
Recycle your Christmas tree to mulch trails at Wake County Parks. Drop off your undecorated holiday trees at:
Wake County Convenience Center Site 2: 6025 Old Smithfield Road, Apex
http://www.wakegov.com/recycling/division/pages/happytrails.aspx
CARY
The town of Cary collects Christmas trees on regular curbside yard waste collection day.
Or drop-off location: Citizen's Convenience Center, 313 N. Dixon Ave.
CHAPEL HILL
Christmas trees are collected on the regular yard waste collection schedule.
http://www.newhopefire.com/trees
CLAYTON
Christmas trees are collected on the regular yard waste collection schedule.
http://www.townofclaytonnc.org/Public-Works/trash-recycling-leaves-limbs.aspx
FUQUAY VARINA
Christmas trees will be collected curbside.
Drop-off location:
Convenience center at Action Park (off Wake Chapel Road)
http://www.fuquay-varina.org/354/Holiday-Collection-Schedule
GARNER
Recycle your Christmas tree to mulch trails at Wake County Parks. Drop off your undecorated holiday trees at:
Wake County Convenience Center Site 1: 10505 Old Stage Road, Garner
http://www.wakegov.com/recycling/division/pages/happytrails.aspx
In Garner, there will also be a Christmas Tree Recycling Drive from 12/30/17 through 12/31/17. This drive will support Local Scouts in Troop 10. You can request your online form today at: troop10nc@gmail.com.
http://business.garnerchamber.com/events/details/christmas-tree-recycling-drive-8748
HOLLY SPRINGS
Christmas trees are collected on the regular yard waste collection schedule.
https://www.hollyspringsnc.us/196/Yard-Waste
https://www.hollyspringsnc.us/419/Large-Amounts-of-Yard-Waste-and-Debris
KNIGHTDALE
Christmas tree pickup will be every Monday in January, starting on Tuesday, January 3rd.
http://www.knightdalenc.gov/index.aspx?page=807
MORRISVILLE
Waste Industries will collect your Christmas trees on your normal yard waste collection days in the month of January.
http://www.ci.morrisville.nc.us/index.aspx?NID=267
Recycle your Christmas tree to mulch trails at Wake County Parks. Drop off your undecorated holiday trees at:
Lake Crabtree County Park: 1400 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville
http://www.wakegov.com/recycling/division/pages/happytrails.aspx
NEW HILL
Recycle your Christmas tree to mulch trails at Wake County Parks. Drop off your undecorated holiday trees at:
Harris Lake County Park: 2112 County Park Drive, New Hill
http://www.wakegov.com/recycling/division/pages/happytrails.aspx
RALEIGH
Recycle your Christmas tree to mulch trails at Wake County Parks. Drop off your undecorated holiday trees at:
Wake County Convenience Center Site 4: 3600 Yates Mill Pond Road, Raleigh
Blue Jay Point County Park: 3200 Pleasant Union Church Road, Raleigh
North Wake Landfill District Park: 9300 Deponie Drive, Raleigh
http://www.wakegov.com/recycling/division/pages/happytrails.aspx
WENDELL
Recycle your Christmas tree to mulch trails at Wake County Parks.
Drop off your undecorated holiday trees at:
Wake County Convenience Center Site 11: 5051 Wendell Blvd., Wendell
http://www.wakegov.com/recycling/division/pages/happytrails.aspx
While we all love the holidays, think about also giving to the Earth! Instead of throwing away your tree, choose to help our environment by recycling it. Happy holidays!