South Bend will turn your Christmas tree into mulch and compost
SOUTH BEND — South Bend residents can put their Christmas trees out by the curb throughout January, and the city will recycle them into mulch and compost.
The city announced that residents within South Bend city limits can arrange for their Christmas trees to be collected the same day as their trash from Jan. 2 to Feb. 1. The city will turn the trees into mulch and compost at the Organic Resources Facility, where residents can pick up the recycled materials free of charge starting in March.
Residents must schedule pickups, however, via an online form or by calling 311. The form must be submitted the day before the scheduled pickup or the tree won't be collected until the following week.
City crews will remove only one tree per household without charging a fee. Additional Christmas trees can be removed for $10 a tree.
The city offers the following guidelines for preparing Christmas trees to be recycled:
● Place all trees at the curb by 6 a.m. on the day of pickup. Trees should not be placed in the street or alley. Don't park cars on top or in front of the tree.
● Prior to pickup, remove all lights, ornaments, plastic and metals, such as nails or tree stands, from the tree. Lingering decorations can injure employees or ruin the tree-shredding equipment.
● Don't try to recycle artificial trees or trees containing any metal, glass or wire.
Visit southbendin.gov/treepickup for all of the information about South Bend's Christmas tree pickup program.
Email South Bend Tribune city reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09