Raleigh, Fayetteville release Christmas tree recycling info

It’s almost that time of year.

The time when Christmas trees once revered for their decorations are soon stripped and placed at the curb for recycling.

Raleigh residents can dispose of their trees by placing them at the curb alongside regular yard waste on their scheduled collection day.

Any bags, stands, lights, tinsel ornaments and other non-vegetative items should be removed from the tree, which should be placed at the curb no later than 7 a.m. on collection day. City officials advise not to put trees at the curb prior to collection day. Artificial trees should be disassembled and placed in the garbage cart.

Natural wreaths are also being collected for recycling. Wires, metal and bows must be removed prior to placing at the curb.

Live in a multifamily complex and want to arrange for collection? Complex managers should call (919) 996-6890.

Raleigh’s Solid Waste Services Department turns the trees into wood chips and mulch, which is then sold to the public at the city’s yard waste center on North New Hope Road.

The city’s curbside collection schedule for garbage, recycling and yard waste has changed due to Christmas falling on a Wednesday. Residents scheduled to receive service on Wednesday will be served on Thursday. Those normally served on Thursday will have their items collected on Friday. Routes scheduled for Friday service will be served on Saturday.

The same holiday collection schedule will be in place next week due to New Year’s Day. Tuesday’s regularly scheduled routes will be served as normal. Service to all other routes will be pushed back one day. Regular waste collection service will be provided to downtown on New Year’s Day.

The city's yard waste center will be closed on New Year’s Day. It will reopen Jan. 2.

Fayetteville will conduct its 20th annual "Grinding of the Greens" on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 8:30 a.m. inside the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens. Employees from the Fayetteville Public Works Commission, City of Fayetteville and Duke Energy Progress will grind Christmas trees into mulch for use on woodland paths at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden and in community parks.

Fayetteville residents have until Jan. 6 to place their trees out for curbside collection. The City will make special pickups between Jan. 6 and Jan. 10. Pickups are separate from yard waste, trash or recycle pickups. All lights, stands and trimmings should be removed from the tree.

Those who miss the pickup or live outside Fayetteville city limits can drop off their tree at the botanical gardens (536 N. Eastern Blvd., Fayetteville) any day before January 11.