Hempstead Town To Collect Live Trees, Wreaths Next Week

Now that the holidays have come and gone, it's time to clean up. And for some, that means getting rid of their once-live Christmas trees and wreaths.

The Town of Hempstead will be collecting trees and wreaths curbside on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Those who wish to get rid of them earlier can bring them to the town's Homeowner Disposal Area, located at 1600 Merrick Road in Merrick, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

“The longer you keep a live tree in your house, the more of a fire hazard it becomes” said Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen. “A dry tree can ignite a room in less than a minute and lead to one of the deadliest types of fires that can involve entire families.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Christmas trees are responsible for an estimated average of 210 reported house fires per year, resulting in an annual average of seven deaths, 19 injuries, and $17.5 million in property damage.

The town offered these tips for homeowners getting rid of trees:

• Trees should be stripped of ornaments and lights and be placed at the end of the driveway. Trees should not be placed in the road or blocking the sidewalk.
• If branches from the tree have fallen off, be sure to place them in garbage bags and leave them with your regular yard waste. The branches should be bundled and tied and be approximately 2’ X 2’ X 4’ in size and weigh no more than 75 pounds.

Photo: Renee Schiavone/Patch