Christmas tree recycling carries on across the state

Delawareans are encouraged to give their recycling spirit a boost after the holiday season by delivering their Christmas trees to one of many yard waste recycling facilities located throughout the state. Note that Christmas trees are no longer accepted for recycling at any Delaware State Parks locations.

Christmas trees will be accepted free of charge for recycling from Delaware residents at facilities listed below. Residents may be able to bring in their trees as soon as today's date and as late as Jan. 30, 2017, but first should contact a facility for specific hours and details. Trees will not be accepted from commercial haulers or tree vendors without prior approval from a yard waste facility. Also, Christmas tree decorations, including hooks, wire, tinsel and ornaments, as well as wood and metal tree stands, must be removed from all trees before dropping them off for recycling.

"Many Delawareans have been recycling their Christmas trees for many years, and we encourage everyone to establish or continue this eco-friendly tradition," said Bill Miller, program manager in DNREC's Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Section. "Recycling Christmas trees that are a product of nature is a wonderful way of giving back to the environment."

Christmas tree recycling also saves valuable landfill space. At least 23 percent of residential waste in the state is composed of grass, leaves, brush, trees and other lawn maintenance and landscape materials. Prior to Delaware's yard waste bans, these materials – considered a resource for recycling rather than waste – were deposited in landfills, using capacity while at the same time limiting local markets for mulch and compost products.

Many entities across the state also collect Christmas trees, including various waste haulers and landscapers. Regular trash haulers may offer special collections for Christmas trees in January.

Christmas trees – again with the stipulation that they are stripped of all decorations and detached from tree stands – can be dropped off by Delaware residents for free at any of the following Sussex County locations:

Blessings Greenhouses, 9372 Draper Road, Milford, 302-393-3273, Monday-Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Blue Hen Organics, 33529 Fox Run Road, Frankford, 302-732-3211, Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Grizzly's Landscape Supply Service, 14680, Coastal Hwy, Milton, 302-644-0654, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Mr. Mulch, 22288 Coverdale Road, Seaford, 302-629-5737, Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Millville Organic Center, Whites Neck Road, Millville, 302-423-2601, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Selbyville Pet and Garden Center (free for active customers within the last six months), 38205 DuPont Blvd., Selbyville, 302-436-8286, Thursdays and Fridays 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Stockley Materials, 25136 DuPont Blvd., Georgetown, 302-856-7601, Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Only Christmas trees from Delaware residents will be accepted for free. Note that facilities may charge a fee for other yard waste. There are other locations than those listed above throughout the state that also accept Christmas trees for recycling, but charge a fee for the service. For information on other yard waste drop-off sites in Delaware, go to: www.dnrec.delaware.gov/yardwaste and click "Yard waste drop-off options."

Delawareans are also reminded that DNREC's Polly Drummond Hill Road yard waste site is closing Jan. 16, and is tentatively scheduled to reopen on April 1.

For more information about yard waste, go to www.dnrec.delaware.gov/yardwaste or call 302-739-9403 Ext. 1.