Give Your Christmas Tree New Life by Recycling It
CHARLOTTE, NC — Now that Christmas Day has come and gone, my husband is already asking when the decorations are coming down! You may also be wondering when it’s time to take down your live tree. Well, that depends upon both the condition of the tree and when you got it from the tree farm – and how long prior to getting to the lot, it had been cut.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Fire Department recommends putting the tree out to the curb immediately after Christmas, or when it gets dry. The drier the tree, the more of a fire hazard and should be put out away from the house. While you may be tempted just to burn the tree in your backyard because it is so dry, DON’T!
In Mecklenburg County, the solid waste department recycles Christmas trees for free. They then turn the trees into mulch for sale. In Charlotte, trees should be placed on the curb on your regular yard waste collection day. If you have an artificial tree that you want to dispose of, you can schedule a bulky-item pickup by calling 311.
The National Christmas Tree Association offers the following options for recycling Christmas trees:
* Curbside pick-up for recycling as above.
* 
Drop-off at one of the county’s recycling centers (below). In Mecklenburg County, you may take up to two trees to a drop-off location at no charge:
- North Mecklenburg Yard Waste Facility, 12300 N. Statesville Road
- Compost Central Mulch and Composting, 5631 West Blvd.
- Hickory Grove Yard Waste Facility, 8007 Pence Road
- Foxhole Yard Waste Facility, 17131 Lancaster Highway
* Yard waste: Cut the tree to fit loosely into your yard waste container.
* Tree recycling/mulching programs: Tree recycling and mulching programs are a fast-growing trend; these companies chip and shred the trees, then make the mulch available for use in your garden.
* Nonprofit pickup: Call for an appointment to have a nonprofit organization in your area pickup your tree. Some Boy Scout troops offer a pickup service for a small donation (often $5).
© Debe Maxwell | The Maxwell House Group | RE/MAX Executive | CharlotteBroker@icloud.com | Give Your Christmas Tree New Life by Recycling It
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