Marin waste collectors offer free Christmas tree pickups
Ready to part with the festive evergreen? Marin's waste collection services are offering free Christmas tree curbside pickup in the coming weeks.
Customers of Marin Sanitary Service — the waste hauler for San Rafael, Larkspur, Ross, San Anselmo, Fairfax, Greenbrae and some unincorporated areas — can leave trees at the curb next to their bins for free pickup on regular garbage collection days from Tuesday through Jan. 12.
Justin Wilcock, a manager at Marin Sanitary Service, said the company's drivers do not work on holidays, which bumps services a
day. Trees must to be cut into 6-foot sections, and all decorations, including ornaments, tinsel, lights and tree stands, must be removed so the trees can be composted.
“If it's a large tree, over 6 feet, it needs to be cut in half,” Wilcock said. “And we always end up with decorations that weren't removed.”
Flocked trees, real or fake, cannot be composted and must be cut into small sections and put in the garbage bins.
After Jan. 12, curbside collection costs $5.
“If they miss that two-week window they can always bring it to us, or they are always welcome to cut it up and put it in their green can,” Wilcock said. “As long as the lid closes, that's no problem at all.”
In southern Marin, Bay City Refuse — which services Marin City and Sausalito — requires that trees over 7 feet be cut in half and free of all decorations. Trees can be cut up and placed in the green organics bin, or placed curbside, on the customer's regular service day. There are no date restrictions. Flocked trees must to be cut up and placed into the garbage bin.
“All real trees are composted,” said Kim Christie of Bay City Refuse. “Flocked trees are coated with a synthetic material that is not natural. We do see them now and then.”
Bay Cities Refuse will set up a box at the MLK parking lot off Coloma Street in Sausalito for those