Christmas Tree Recycling: Pittsburgh, Allegheny County Locations

PITTSBURGH, PA - It’s one of the drearier but unavoidable tasks of the holiday season: disposing of the Christmas tree you worked so hard to artfully decorate.

With Christmas in the rear view mirror, Allegheny County is again offering its annual Christmas tree recycling program. Last year, more than 2,000 trees were recycled into mulch that was used throughout the county’s 12,000 acres of parklands.

County residents have until Jan. 16 to drop off their trees at one of the nine county parks during regular operating hours between dawn and dusk. All lights, decorations tinsel and stands must be removed prior to drop-off.

The drop-off locations:

• Boyce Park: Parking lot by the soccer fields.

• Deer Lakes Park: Parking lot by the Veterans 2 Shelter.

• Harrison Hills Park: Parking lot at the intersection of Chipmunk & Cottontail Drive.

• Hartwood Acres Park: Parking lot at the mansion.

• North Park: Parking lot at the swimming pool.

• Round Hill Park: Parking lot at the Alfalfa Shelter.

• Settlers Cabin Park: Parking lot by the wave pool.

• South Park: Parking lot at the wave pool.

• White Oak Park: Parking lot at the Chestnut Shelter

In Pittsburgh, residents can take trees to several different drop-off locations to have them composted for free. Like at the county sites, all ornaments, lights and stands must be removed and trees in plastic bags or netting will not be accepted. Trees set out at the curb for refuse pick-up will be sent to a landfill.

The city drop-off locations:

• Hazelwood Schenley Park Division, 40 Melanchton St. Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.- 1 p.m.

• East End 2nd Division of Public Works, 6814 Hamilton Ave. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

• West End 5th Division of Public Works, 1330 Hassler St. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

• Strip District Environmental Services Lot, 3001 Railroad St. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Baum Grove Parklet in Friendship, 400 Roup Ave. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Photo: Associated Press.