'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 the Inland Empire invites residents to recycle their tree.

“Christmas trees can do more than brighten the hearts of children this holiday season,” said Eloisa Orozco spokesperson for Waste Management of Southern California. “Trees can be recycled and given back to nature in the form of mulch.”

Residents in the following cities/areas may conveniently recycle their tree by cutting their tree and placing it inside their green waste container allowing the lid to close:
• Beaumont
• Banning
• Menifee
• Moreno Valley
• Wildomar
• Communities in unincorporated Riverside County and San Bernardino County

For residents in the following cities, tree collection will take place on customers’ scheduled collection day from December 26 through January 9. Residents may recycle their tree by cutting and placing it inside their green waste cart allowing the lid to close or at the curb. For the weeks of December 22 and December 29, collection will be delayed one day for customers normally serviced Thursday of Friday:
• Corona
• Eastvale
• Jurupa Valley
• Norco

City of Murrieta and City of Chino residents may recycle their trees during the first two weeks following Christmas on customers’ scheduled collection day from December 29 through January 9. Trees will be collected at the curb and may be picked-up by special bed trucks. For the week of December 29, collection will be delayed one day for customers normally serviced Thursday or Friday.

Residents in all service cities/areas are asked to remove decorations, including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands from their tree. In addition, trees higher than 5 feet must be cut in half for those without green waste services. Residents are reminded that flocked trees cannot be recycled. They will be collected by the trash collector.

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