As a way for towns to save dollars and improve recycling rates, the county will accept Christmas trees free of charge for recycling at the Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex in Florence and Mansfield townships.
“We’re not trying to rush through the holidays,” Freeholder Joseph Donnelly said. “But as the holiday season winds to a close, residents should contact their municipalities to see if they offer Christmas tree recycling.”
He noted that tree, brush and yard waste are handled differently in each town.
For trees to be eligible for free disposal, residents or municipalities must bring them to the landfill complex as a separate load (not mixed with trash). No artificial or flocked trees can be accepted. All plastic bags, ropes, decorations, garland, tinsel, ornaments, lights, stands, wire and nails should be removed.
“’Treecycling’” is an easy way to return a renewable and natural resource back to the environment,” Donnelly said. The county grinds up the trees to use as an amendment to compost produced at the co-composting facility.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, about 33 million real Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. every year. Real Christmas trees are a renewable resource, with 98 percent of them being grown and harvested each year as a crop. They are carbon neutral and create organic, biodegradable waste, making them the greener choice for Christmas greenery in comparison to artificial trees.
For more information call the Resource Recovery Complex scale house Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Saturday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at (609) 499–5300 or the county Recycling Office at (609) 499–1001.
