Turn your Christmas tree into mulch with the Christmas Tree Recycling Program
Now that the holiday season is over Calgarians can go green and clean up at the same time by recycling their real Christmas trees. The trees collected through the annual Christmas Tree Recycling program are turned into mulch and kept out of the landfill.
“We collect trees from homes and there are also eight drop-off locations to bring your tree, so it’s really easy for people to participate,” says Darcy Cairns, superintendent of programs for Waste & Recycling Services.
Over 35,000 trees were collected last year.
“It’s an easy way to take an old item and turn it into useful mulch again, keep it out of our landfills and prevent harmful greenhouse gases,” says Cairns. “The nice thing is that residents can pick up mulch for their gardening and landscaping afterwards.”
The mulch is available to residents at no cost at the East Calgary landfill, while supplies last.
Pick-up
Collection crews will pick up real Christmas trees from homes that receive residential black cart garbage collection.
- To participate, place your tree on the ground near your black cart collection spot by 7 a.m. on Friday, January 9.
- Make sure the tree is not blocking the street, lane or sidewalk and is at least a foot (30 centimetres) away from your carts.
- Leave the tree out and it will be picked up within three weeks.
Drop-off
Tree drop-off locations are open until January 31.
- Bowness Fire Station #15 - 6328 35 Avenue NW
- Prairie Winds Park - 223 Castleridge Blvd NE
- Bottomlands Park - St. George's Drive and 7 Avenue NE
- Marda Loop Communities Association - 3130 16 Street SW
- Parks Compound - 10312 Sacramento Drive SW
- Spyhill Landfill* - 69 Street and 112 Avenue NW
- East Calgary Landfill* - 17 Avenue and 68 Street SE
- Shepard Landfill* - 114 Avenue and 68 Street SE
*Landfill locations are closed Sundays.
How to prepare your real tree for recycling
- Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel, string and tree stands.
- Do not wrap, tie or bag your tree.
For more information about the Christmas Tree Recycling program visit calgary.ca/waste.
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