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Keep the Green Going…Recycle that tree!

Tis the season to recycle and I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) is breaking down the post-holiday basics, starting with recycling your Christmas tree. Every December, ILACSD’s Disposal Solution Center provides accurate information for the proper recycling of holiday trees.

Christmas Tree

Instead of overcrowding local landfills with holiday trees, collected trees can be ground up into high quality mulch or composted and used to enrich soils for next years’ trees and poinsettias! Most waste haulers offer special holiday tree recycling programs to pick up trees with yard waste on regular collection days. In addition to curbside pick-up, tree drop-off sites are located in the communities of Carlsbad, Coronado, El Cajon, Escondido, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, lemon Grove, National City, Ramona, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach, Vista and Unincorporated County.

Your tree is not the only item you can recycle; wrapping paper, cardboard boxes, packaging peanuts are also accepted for recycling many places. Plus, remember to donate unwanted electronics, clothing, and toys to local charities for reuse.

“I Love A Clean San Diego bridges the gap between residents and recyclers, giving San Diegans the opportunity to make the right choice for the environment”, says Pauline Martinson, ILACSD’s Executive Director.

I Love A Clean San Diego operates San Diego County’s only recycling website and call center which refers thousands of residents to the proper facilities to recycle or dispose of just about anything. From broken surfboards to wine corks, railroad ties to cooking oil, ILACSD’s Disposal Solution Center makes recycling quick and convenient. San Diego County residents can go to: www.wastefreesd.org or call 1-877-R-1-EARTH to learn how to recycle hundreds items.

Holiday Tree Recycling Tips:

  • Trees taller than four feet should be cut in half
  • All tree stands, nails and tree decorations must be removed
  • Check with your local hauler to see if they accept flocked trees

A complete list of tree recycling locations is available through our one-stop recycling database, www.wastefreesd.org or by calling 1-877-R-1-EARTH. Remember to Recycle that Tree!