'Tis the Season to Recycle Your Tree

This year, after the presents are opened and the ornaments are removed from the once-sparkling Christmas tree, Waste Management of San Diego invites residents to recycle their tree.

“Christmas trees can do more than brighten the hearts of children this holiday season,” said Bill Bixler, district manager of Waste Management of San Diego. “Trees can be recycled and given back to nature in the form of mulch.”

Waste Management serviced customers may conveniently recycle their trees as follows:

El Cajon, City of San Diego HOA and County of San Diego customers with green waste cart service: Tree pick up will begin on residents’ normally scheduled collection day beginning Monday, December 29 through Friday, January 9.

Santee: Tree pick up will begin on residents’ normally scheduled collection day beginning Friday, December 26 through Friday, January 9.

Convenient tree drop off is available at the El Cajon Transfer Station for Waste Management residential customers without green waste cart services and for those who prefer to drop off their tree:

The El Cajon Transfer Station will accept Christmas trees from December 26 to January 17 during the hours of 7am to 7pm Monday through Friday and 7am to 12pm on Saturdays. There is no cost when dropping off. Please drop off your trees at the El Cajon Recycle Buy Back Center located at: 925 O’Conner Ave in El Cajon, just southwest of the intersection of Bradley Ave and Johnson Ave.

Residents are asked to remove all decorations, including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands, cut their trees and place them inside their green waste cart. For week of December 29, collection will be delayed one day for customers normally serviced on Thursday or Friday. Please note that flocked trees cannot be recycled.

For the creative recycler, here are other ideas for repurposing your tree:

· Bird feeders: Place the Christmas tree in the garden or backyard and use it as a bird feeder and sanctuary. Fresh orange slices or strung popcorn will attract the birds and they can sit in the branches for shelter.

· Mulch: A Christmas tree is biodegradable; its branches can be removed, chipped, and used as mulch in the garden.

· Living, rooted trees: Of course, you can get a rooted tree and then plant it in your yard after Christmas.

ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT

Waste Management, based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Our subsidiaries provide collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. We are the largest residential recycler and also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill-gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. Our customers include residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com