Christmas Trees (Real) Curbside Organics There are numerous options for pick up and composting of your real Christmas tree. Refer to the information below based on your city service area. In the Republic Services Service Area: Christmas trees can be collected at any time if you cut them to fit in your green organics cart. If you cannot cut your tree to fit in your organics cart, you have the following alternative options: On-Call Bulky Pick Up – Call Republic Services to use your annual Bulky Collection for your tree. Whole Tree Curbside Collection for a Fee – Call Republic Services to request a whole tree pick up for approximately a $20.00 fee. Self-Haul your tree to Golden Bear Transfer Station at 1 Parr Blvd., Richmond, CA 94801, thru the first weekend in February to drop off your compostable tree for free. To access the informational flyer from Republic Services (For the Cities of San Pablo, Hercules, Pinole, El Sobrante, and Unincorporated West Contract Costa County) – Click here To access the informational flyer from Republic Services (for the City of Richmond) – Click here Questions? Contact Republic Services: (510) 262-7100 www.richmondsanitaryservice.com In the El Cerrito Service Area: If you cannot cut your tree to fit in your green organics cart, whole Christmas trees are collected at the curb the first two weeks in January (1 – 14, 2022) on your regular collection day. Whole trees (or non-compostable artificial or flocked trees) set out after January 14, 2022, can be picked up for a fee by contacting East Bay Sanitary at 510-237-4321 or [email protected]. Questions? Contact East Bay Sanitary: (510) 237-4321 [email protected] www.ebsan.com Remove All Ornaments, Lights and Tinsel Before you recycle your real Christmas tree, make sure that it is free of all ornaments, lights, tinsel, and stands. Flocked Trees Are Not Recyclable If your tree has flocking (sprayed-on fake snow), it is not compostable and cannot be collected in your organics cart. It will have to go in the trash instead. Click here to refer to Artificial Tree instructions. Ways to Reduce Decorate a Potted Tree Instead It may be unconventional, but skipping the traditional Christmas tree (real or fake) altogether and decorating a potted tree you’ve bought or have in your home is a truly green way to have a tree for the holidays. Buy a Rooted Tree and Plant It After the Holidays Next holiday season, buy a tree with roots (it can be balled and burlap or containerized) and plant it in your yard after you use it. Did You Know? Christmas Trees as Job Creators According to the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), the Christmas tree industry employs more than 100,000 people in the United States. The Environmental Benefits of Christmas Trees Although they’re planted just to be cut down and used as a decoration once they’ve reached maturity, Christmas tree farms have a positive impact on the environment. Each acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen for the daily needs of 18 people.
