The Department of Parks and Recreation announced that residents may start bringing their Christmas trees for recycling starting Saturday, Dec. 26. Christmas tree recycling will end on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016.
All trees to be recycled must be undecorated (ornaments, tinsel, lig hts and stands must be removed).
The Parks & Trees Division will be recycling resident’s Christmas trees by chipping them. The wood chips can be used by residents as mulch or compost. Tree chips retained by the Town will be used in parks as mulch for trails in woodlands, shrub beds, and soil stabilization.
Nationally, Christmas trees are recycled for five main types of large-scale uses.
- Chipping; chips to be used for mulch or compost
- Beachfront erosion prevention
- Lake and river shore stabilization
- Fish habitat; trees are sunk in lakes to serve as cover for young fish and sustaining insects
- River delta sedimentation
Homeowners may also consider retaining their Christmas trees for domestic uses such as:
- Songbird and wildlife habitat: Christmas trees placed near bird feeding areas are used by the visiting birds as shelter from the wind and cold, and as protective cover from predators while consuming the bird food. Trees can also be ‘decorated’ by hanging peanut butter filled pine cones, suet and seed mixes, or fruit.
- Erosion control: Whole trees can be placed in gullied areas to prevent or slow erosion.
- Flower bed protection: Boughs can be cut off the trees to place on flower beds to protect roots and bulbs from winter cold in a decorative way.
Christmas Tree Collection Sites:
- Byram Park:
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. – the parking lot by the Concession.
- Bruce Park:
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. – the parking lot by the Children’s playground, opposite the entrance to Bruce Museum
- Greenwich Point:
6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – first parking lot across from the Nature Center.
- Holly Hill Recycling Center:
7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays – place trees in the yard waste area.
Wood chips will be available to residents at each collection site.
No trees will be accepted after Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016.
The Greenwich Department of Parks & Recreation thanks residents for recycling their Christmas trees with them and wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season and a Happy New Year.
