King County encourages recycling alternatives to Christmas tree disposal

King County is encouraging residents to seek out alternatives to throwing Christmas trees in the garbage. Recycling Christmas trees is less expensive and better for the environment.

"We encourage residents to recycle their Christmas trees, rather than throwing them in the trash or taking them to a transfer station," said Theresa Jennings, Director of the King County Solid Waste Division. "Rather than having them fill up a landfill, they can be chipped and reused as mulch. There are many recycling options that are great for the environment and cost a lot less than the $15.50 trip to a transfer station will require."

Tree-cycling options in King County range from curbside pick-up to special collection events.

• Curbside - Residents will be able to recycling their trees during regular curbside yard waste collection. Restrictions vary and people should contact their city or garbage hauler for more information.
• City tree-cycling events - Many cities in King County provide tree-cycling events, during which residents can drop off their trees for recycling. Check out King County's current tree-cycling calendar to find out whether your city sponsors a tree-cycling event www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/calendar/calendar.asp
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• Private companies - There are several private yard waste facilities in King County that will accept Christmas trees for recycling. King County's "What Do I Do With...?" Web site provides more information. Go to: www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/ for a list of private companies that accept Christmas trees. In many cases, these recycling options are less expensive than disposal.
• Fundraising events - A number of community groups sponsor holiday tree-cycling fundraising events. For a modest donation, they will deliver your tree to a commercial recycler. Look for flyers in your neighborhood around the holidays. By participating in these events, you can help the environment and support a worthy cause at the same time.

For more information, please call the King County Solid Waste Division, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 206-296-4466 or toll free, at 1-800-325-6165, ext. 6-4466, TTY Relay: 711 or visit the Web site at www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/.