Clark County residents urged to recycle Christmas trees

Clark County Public Health officials are asking residents to recycle Christmas trees.

Waste Connections plans to pick up trees from customers with yard debris or organics collection service. Customers without yard debris or organics service can place trees next to garbage containers and pay for an extra 32-gallon collection, but the trees will be sent to a landfill, according to a county news release.

For a fee, typically $5 or less, residents can also recycle trees at several locations in the county, the news release said. Locations include:

• Central Transfer and Recycling, 11034 N.E. 117th Ave., 360-256-8482

• City Bark, 2419 N.E. Andresen Road, 360-253-8461

• H&H Wood Recyclers, 8401 N.E. 117th Ave., 360-892-2805

• McFarlane’s Bark, 8806 N.E. 117th Ave., 360-892-6125

• Triangle Resources, 612 S.E. Union St., Camas, 360-834-7253

• West Van Materials Center, 6601 N.W. Old Lower River Road, 360-737-1727

Lights, tinsel, wire, ornaments and stands should be removed before recycling. Flocked and artificial trees can’t be recycled and should be placed in the garbage.

Trees taller than 5 feet should be cut into smaller sections regardless of where and how they’re collected.

Those with yard debris or organics service can place trees or tree sections in or next to the debris or organics cart at no additional cost. An additional fee will apply for trees placed next to already full carts.

Boy Scouts of America troops will also collect trees from large areas of the county on Saturday and will distribute door hangers with pickup instructions and contact information beforehand. The service is free, but donations will be accepted.

More residents may be in need of these services this year. A survey conducted in late November by the National Retail Federation, which polled 6,615 adults, revealed 51 percent of respondents were more interested in holiday decorations due to COVID-19.

When Christmas trees are recycled, they can be chipped into mulch.

“This gives trees a second life in gardens and returns nutrients back into the soil,” said Tina Kendall, a county environmental outreach specialist.

Additional information on holiday recycling is available at the Clark County Green Neighbors website.