Clark County Public Health is asking residents to recycle their Christmas trees instead of throwing them in the garbage.
A news release stated holiday waste results in an additional 20 to 25% increase in trash, which includes Christmas trees. The National Christmas Tree Association estimates 25 to 30 million live trees are cut and sold in the country each year, with Clark County being among the top five Washington counties for cut trees, the release said.
“Save Christmas trees from the landfill and recycle them to be chipped into mulch,” Tina Kendall, environmental outreach specialist, said in the release. “This gives trees a second life in gardens and returns nutrients back into the soil.”
Public health stated all lights, tinsel, wire, ornaments, and stands must be removed before the trees are recycled. Flocked and artificial trees must be thrown in the garbage. Waste Connections will pick up trees from customers with yard debris, an organics collection, or regular garbage service in most parts of Clark County, the release said. Taller trees need to be cut into sections no longer than five feet regardless of whether they go into the yard debris, organics, or garbage bins.
To recycle trees, Waste Connections customers with yard debris or organics service can:
• Place trees smaller than five feet in the yard debris or organics cart at no extra charge.
• Place a single tree, cut into sections of five feet or less, next to an empty yard debris or organics cart at no extra charge.
• Place a single tree, cut into sections of five feet or less, next to a full yard debris cart for an additional fee.
Customers who don’t have the yard debris or organics service must put their trees next to their garbage containers and pay for an extra 32-gallon collection, the release added. Those trees will be sent to the landfill and will not be recycled.
Clark County residents can also recycle Christmas trees of any size for $5 or less at the following locations:
• Central Transfer and Recycling, 11034 NE 117th Ave., 360-256-8482
• City Bark, 2419 NE Andresen Road, 360-253-8461
• H&H Wood Recyclers, 8401 NE 117th Ave., 360-892-2805
• McFarlane’s Bark, 8806 NE 117th Ave., 360-892-6125
• Triangle Resources, 612 SE Union St., Camas, 360-834-7253
• West Van Materials Center, 6601 NW Old Lower River Road, 360-737-1727
Scouts BSA will also collect trees in many areas of the county for recycling on Saturday, Jan. 8 for free, although donations are accepted. Scout units may administer door hangers with pick-up instructions and contact information in their designated areas, the release stated.
For more information, visit clarkgreenneighbors.org/en/holiday-waste-reduction or contact senior communications specialist of public health, Marissa Armstrong, at 564-397-7307 or marissa.armstrong@clark.wa.gov.
The Waste Connections website is available online at www.wasteconnections.com.
