Recycle Your Christmas Tree

Hard to believe we’re two weeks into the New Year and Holidays are already over. As you drive through the county you see many people are just putting their Christmas trees out to the curb.  Have you ever wonder what happens to those old trees? Howard County’s Christmas Tree Recycling program, Merry Mulch, delivers them to a facility that that turns them into compost and mulch.

Curbside collection of trees will continue through January 17. Residents should place their trees at the curb on the night before their regular recycling pick up. Yard refuse collection trucks will come through between 6am and 7pm. While it isn’t necessary to bag your tree all decorations should be removed.

If you don’t want to wait for the regular pick you can take your tree to one of the collection sites throughout the county.

Clarksville      Kendal Hardware and River Hill Garden Center

Columbia       Cedar Lane Park and Grandfather’s Garden Center

Elkridge         Rockburn Park

Ellicott City    Small Circuit Court parking lot on upper Court House Drive

Highland        Schooley Mill Park

Marriottsville  Alpha Ridge Landfill Wood Waste Area

Savage          Savage Park

Woodbine      Western Regional Park

The Merry Mulch centers close for the season on January 17. Not worry if you miss the cut off you can take your tree to the mulching center at Alpha Ridge Wood Waste Area, Monday through Saturday from 8am to 4pm.

The tree recycling program keeps hundreds of tons of Christmas trees out of our local land fill and turn them into mulch and compost that can be used throughout our community. In landfills, even though they break down over time, trees take up valuable space. Recycling a tree is just one way to make your holiday a little greener.