Time To Recycle That Christmas Tree
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – New Year's Eve has come and gone so many are starting to think about taking down the Christmas tree. If you're looking for a way to dispose of your Christmas tree in an environmentally-friendly fashion for free, Miami Dade and Broward County offer some free solutions.
Miami-Dade's Department of Solid Waste Management will turn your Christmas tree into garden mulch.
Through Monday, Jan. 7th, 2013, the county's 13 neighborhood trash and recycling centers will take them and turn them into mulch which they'll give away free to residents on a first come, first serve basis.
Trees can be brought in for recycling to one of the locations listed below:
Trash and Recycling Centers (open seven days a week, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
- North Dade Landfill - 21500 NW 47 Avenue
- Norwood - 19901 NW 7 Avenue
- Palm Springs North - 7870 NW 178 Street
- Golden Glades - 140 NW 160 Street
- West Little River - 1830 NW 79 Street
- Snapper Creek - 2200 SW 117 Avenue
- Sunset Kendall - 8000 SW 107 Avenue
- Chapman Field - 13600 SW 60 Avenue
- Richmond Heights - 14050 Boggs Drive
- West Perrine - 16651 SW 107 Ave
- Eureka Drive - 9401 SW 184 Street
- South Miami Heights - 20800 SW 117 Court
- Moody Drive - 12970 SW 268 Street
The trees will also be accepted at the county's two Home Chemical Collection Centers at 8831 N.W. 58th Street in West Dade and 23707 SW 97th Avenue in South Dade from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
All trees must be free of tinsel, ornaments, lights, decorations and tree stand.
If the idea of hauling the tree to the recycling center seems to be too much of a hassle, residents may cut the tree into smaller pieces and place it inside their green waste cart for collection on any of their regularly scheduled waste collection days. The tree must fit entirely inside the waste cart. Trees placed next to the waste cart cannot be collected by the automated waste collection truck.
For those residents who cannot drop off their Christmas tree for recycling or cut it in pieces and place it in their waste cart, the tree may be placed at the curbside no later than Monday, January 7, 2013, and it will be collected.
Christmas trees placed at the curbside after January 7th will not be picked up and must either be taken to a drop-off location or placed in the waste cart for collection as described above.
Once all those trees are munched into mulch, residents can reap the harvest by picking up free tree chips for use in your garden. Chips will be available beginning in late January while supplies last. You can pick up chips at:
- Sunset Kenndall: 8000 SW 107th Avenue
- North Dade: 21500 NW 47th Avenue
- Eureka Drive: 9401 SW 184th Street
- West Little River: 1830 NW 79th Street
- Moody Drive: 12970 SW 268th Street
- West Perrine: 16651 SW 107th Avenue
Please bring your own bag or container to take mulch away.
In Broward County, residents can take advantage of the free Chip-A-Tree program which recycles trees into mulch that's used throughout the park system. Last year, Broward County Parks recycled more than 9,000 trees, representing more than a hundred tons of material that would otherwise have gone to landfills.
This season's program runs from Wednesday, December 26, 2012, through Monday, January 21, 2013, giving you plenty of time to take advantage of those after-the-holidays sales before hauling your tree to a park. And remember, the regular weekend and holiday gate entrance fee will NOT be in effect for recyclers. Hours vary; call the park of your choice for details.
- Brian Piccolo Park & Velodrome, 9501 Sheridan St., Cooper City 33024; 954-357-5150
- C. B. Smith Park, 900 N. Flamingo Rd., Pembroke Pines 33028; 954-357-5170
- Easterlin Park, 1000 N.W. 38th St., Oakland Park 33309; 954-357-5190
- Fern Forest Nature Center, 201 Lyons Rd. South, Coconut Creek 33063; 954-357-5198
- Markham Park & Target Range, 16001 W. State Rd. 84, Sunrise 33326; 954-357-8868
- Plantation Heritage Park, 1100 S. Fig Tree Lane, Plantation 33317; 954-357-5135
- Quiet Waters Park, 401 S. Powerline Rd., Deerfield Beach 33441; 954-357-5100
- Reverend Samuel Delevoe Park, 2520 N.W. Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale 33311; 954-791-1036
- Snake Warrior's Island Natural Area, 3600 S.W. 62nd Ave., Miramar 33023; 954-357-8776
- Tradewinds Park & Stables, 3600 W. Sample Rd., Coconut Creek 33073; 954-357-8870
- Tree Tops Park, 3900 S.W. 100th Ave., Davie 33328; 954-357-5130
- T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park, 3300 N. Park Rd., Hollywood 33021; 954-357-8811
- Vista View Park, 4001 S.W. 142nd Ave., Davie 33330; 954-357-8898
- West Lake Park, 1200 Sheridan St., Hollywood 33019; 954-357-5161
There's a limit of two trees per vehicle.
