Free Disposal Options for Safe Disposal of Your Christmas Tree

Staff Writer

Monday, December 19th, 2016

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, with beautifully decorated homes, Christmas lights, shoppers filling the stores, and the traditional Christmas trees. The San Bernardino County fire department wants to keep you and your home safe and would like to remind you of a few tips for before and after Christmas. The first thing is keeping your tree properly watered to keep it from drying out if caught on fire a tree can burn with the flames spreading to a structure; your home.

Once your Christmas festivities are complete you should promptly and properly dispose of your naturally cut trees. Fire officials warn that dried-out trees are a fire danger and they should not be left in your home, garage, or even placed outdoors against your home. Plastic tree bags can be found at your local hardware stores and can help prevent a mess and make for easier disposal of your tree.

The fire department officials also urge residents to not burn Christmas trees in your home fireplace, these burns can be explosive; putting your family and property at risk. “The pitch in the wood creates huge, fast-moving sparks that can jump right out of the fireplace and into your room, or up the chimney and onto the shingles of your roof potentially causing a fire,” fire officials said in a news release.

There are many safe and responsible tree disposing options available to residents:

Curbside pick-up: Many waste management providers will collect trees during regular pickup schedules the two weeks following Christmas. Check with your local provider for requirements and details.

Drop-off recycling center: Some jurisdictions will have free drop-off locations and/or recycling containers. Check with your local government office for more information.

Yard waste: Cut your tree to fit loosely into your yard waste container.
Mulch: A Christmas tree and its branches can be removed, chipped, and used as mulch.

Residents in the following areas have these methods of disposal available to them for Christmas tree removal and recycling:

Valley, High Desert, and Mountain residents serviced by Burrtec Waste

o Burrtec will collect and recycle Christmas trees from single-family residences. Place trees curbside during the period after Christmas (Dec. 26 through Jan. 6, 2017) on normal collection day. Trees six feet and over need to be cut in half. Take all ornaments, lights, and metal stands off of the tree.

Chino area residents serviced by Waste Management

o Curbside collection starting Dec. 28 through Jan. 4, 2017.

Phelan & Wrightwood residents serviced by CR&R Disposal

o Trees collected for recycling made via requests on Dec. 29, Jan. 5, Jan. 12, and Jan. 19.

o Recycling container at CR&R yard in Phelan for drop-off of Christmas Trees fromDec. 27 through Jan. 23 (Phelan residents only).

o Recycling container at Wrightwood True Value Hardware Store for drop-off fromDec. 27 through Jan. 23 (Wrightwood residents only).

o Trees collected for disposal on regular service days starting Dec. 26.

Hesperia & Oak Hills residents serviced by Advance Disposal

o Spring Valley Lake residents will have a roll-off for tree disposal.

o All other residents will have curbside collection starting Jan. 2 through Jan. 27. Collection will take place on normal service days.

o Advance Disposal residential customers can also take trees to their facility at 17105 Mesa St. in Hesperia for free.

Twentynine Palms residents serviced by Burrtec Waste

o Burrtec will collect and recycle Christmas trees from single-family residences. Place trees curbside during the period after Christmas (Dec. 26 through Jan. 9) on normal collection day. Trees four feet and over need to be cut in half. Take all ornaments, lights, bags, nails, and metal stands off of the tree. Trees with tinsel, ornaments, or tree stands will not be recycled.

o Residents living in apartments and condominiums can drop off trees to be recycled at the Twentynine Palms City Hall (west end of parking lot) located at 6136 Adobe Rd., Twentynine Palms.

Mountain area residents serviced by Big Bear Disposal

o Christmas trees will be picked up curbside for residents serviced by Big Bear Disposal. There are no special collection dates. They will be picked up on Thursdays, the regular scheduled service day. Residents do not have to call ahead of time. Trees must be at the curb and cannot have stands, flocking, or tinsel. They also must be cut in half or to lengths no longer than four feet. Residents are also allowed to bring the trees to their Clean Bear Site No. 1 at 41970 Garstin Dr. A special roll off just for trees will be placed next to the Buy Back Center from Dec. 23 through Jan. 15. Same rules apply, no stands flocking or tinsel, and they must be cut in half or to four foot lengths.

Residents not included above should check with their waste management provider or local jurisdiction.

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