SAN DIEGO — San Diego kicked off its 50th annual Christmas tree recycling program Tuesday, with officials holding a news conference to detail how residents can safely dispose of the holiday items.
San Diego offers 16 locations citywide where residents can drop off their Christmas trees to be recycled for free. Both green and flocked trees (fake snow) are accepted. All tree stands, bags, netting, lights, ornaments, tinsel and other tree decorations must be removed.
No artificial trees will be accepted.
San Diegans also can opt to place Christmas trees in their organic waste recycling green bins, after making sure to cut them in pieces so they fit entirely inside the bin with the lid closed.
"We encourage residents to bring their clean, undecorated Christmas trees to any of our 16 drop-off locations within the city or place their tree in their green bin," City Council President Pro Tem Joe LaCava said. "Recycling these trees helps us reduce the amount of waste going into the Miramar Landfill, and it helps the city meet its sustainability goals by converting the trees into high-quality mulch and compost that residents can pick up for free at the Miramar Landfill."
City residents can also load up to two cubic yards of compost and mulch for free at the Miramar Greenery at 5180 Convoy St.
The Christmas Tree Recycling Program runs through Jan. 23.
Officials say the city has recycled approximately 52,153 tons of trees over the past 50 years, equating to 104.3 million pounds.
To prepare a tree for recycling, remove tinsel, decorations, lights and metal. If you have a tall tree, cut it in half.
"We hope you'll give your tree new life as compost, wood chips or mulch and help us divert waste from our landfill," LaCava said.
This year's drop-off locations are listed below:
-- Carmel Valley Recreation Center, 3777 Townsgate Drive (lower parking lot);
-- Encanto at Cielo Drive at Woodman Street;
-- Golden Hill Recreation Center, 2600 Golf Course Drive;
-- Memorial Recreation Center, 2902 Marcy Ave. in Logan Heights;
-- SeaWorld Pacific Highway in Mission Bay;
-- Ocean View Boulevard at 40th Street (north side) in Mountain View;
-- 6350 College Grove Drive (Gloria Mesa parking lot) at Chollas Lake in Oak Park;
-- Robb Field Recreation Center, 2525 Bacon St. in Ocean Beach;
-- Montgomery Waller Community Park (lower parking lot, southeast corner of Palm Avenue and Beyer Boulevard) in Otay Mesa/Nestor;
-- Kate Sessions Memorial Park, corner of Mount Soledad Road and Loring Street in Pacific Beach;
-- Rancho Bernardo Recreation Center, 18448 West Bernardo Drive;
-- Canyonside Recreation Center, 12350 Black Mountain Road in Rancho Penasquitos;
-- San Diego State University, Parking lot 17 off Alvarado Road;
-- Scripps Ranch Recreation Center, 11454 Cypress Drive;
-- Tierrasanta Community Park pool parking lot, 11220 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.;
-- Standley Community Park parking lot in University City, 3585 Governor Drive.
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