Post-holiday recycling of trees gets underway
With the holidays past, Marin garbage haulers are offering free Christmas tree curbside pickup and drop- off locations throughout the county.
Beginning this week, trees will be chipped and hauled away to be turned into mulch or compost, or burned for energy.
“We’re giving plenty of opportunities to recycle Christmas trees,” said Justin Wilcock, director of operations at Marin Sanitary Service, the largest garbage hauler in the county.
The business, which covers San Rafael, Larkspur, Ross, San Anselmo, Fairfax and some unincorporated areas of Marin, is asking its customers to leave trees at the curb for free pickup on regular garbage collection days through Jan. 15. Trees set out past that date will trigger a $5 charge.
Trees more than 6 feet tall must be cut in half. Ornaments, tinsel and stands must be removed. Smaller trees can be cut and placed inside the green bin, but the lid must close. Customers are also welcome to drop off up to two unflocked trees at the Marin Resource Recovery Center at 565 Jacoby St. in San Rafael through the end of the month.
Mill Valley Refuse Service is also offering free curbside pickup. The business serves customers in Mill Valley, Tiburon, Belvedere, Corte Madera and surrounding unincorporated areas. Customers
can set out their trees on regular green waste pickup days. Trees taller than 5 feet must be cut. Plastic trees cannot be recycled and must go in the trash.
“For us, our goal is to keep as much green waste and compost out of the garbage stream,” said Matt Willemsen, route supervisor. “It’s important to remember that all ornaments, tinsel, lights and stands be removed. Any flocked trees go in the garbage.”
Similarly, Bay Cities Refuse, which serves Sausalito and Marin City, can accommodate curbside pickup for trees up to 7 feet. Anything taller must be cut in half.
“People started putting out trees early,” said Greg Christie, general manager of the agency.
“People are generally pretty good about recycling their trees, and we even got some calls asking about the service the day after Christmas.”
Tamalpais Community Services District, which serves customers in Tamalpais Valley, will pick up trees at the curb on regular garbage collection days between Jan. 12 and 15 at no charge. Customers can call the district and arrange to have trees picked up on different
dates for a $30 fee.
In Novato, San Marin High School canceled its annual tree collection fundraiser due to the coronavirus pandemic. Recology is offering free curbside tree pickup for its Novato customers on regular collection days through Friday. Trees taller than 6 feet must be cut.
The company is only offering curbside pickup to customers in West Marin who cut their trees and fit them into a green compost bin with the lid closed.