A naturally grown Christmas tree is a festive backdrop for the holiday season. As the needles start dropping, however, consider how you may reuse or recycle it in the days ahead: Place the tree outside to become a backyard habitat for wintering birds and creatures; cut boughs for covering and protecting flower beds; or use a few small branches to feed an outdoor fire pit.
For a simple alternative, find out how and when your city or county will collect or accept Christmas trees. Over the next few weeks, Hampton Roads residents may contribute to this seasonal recycling program when they place their naturally-grown Christmas trees on the curb or drop the trees off at specified collection areas. Most localities chip the trees into mulch that is then used to spruce up plantings around town. Trees should be free of any ornaments, tinsel or stands and lights. And remember, strands of Christmas lights are not recyclable in curbside recycling carts.
As of this date, the following cities and counties have announced their natural Christmas tree recycling/pick-up schedules. For updates, call your locality or visit their website. For additional information about all things green, go to askHRgreen.org.
Chesapeake
When: Dec. 26-Jan. 12
Where: Trees will be picked up on your regular trash collection day and mulched/composted. There are no city-sponsored Christmas tree drop-off sites in Chesapeake.
What to know: Remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel and the stand. Place it separately from bulk waste and regular trash so it can be easily collected. Please do not put in a bag or put netting around it.
Gloucester
When: Dec. 26-Feb. 28
Where: Residents may place Christmas trees in the brush container at any Gloucester County Convenience Center during regular hours (Monday – Friday 8 AM to 7 PM and Saturday 7 AM to 7 PM.). See the list below for locations.
Middle Peninsula Landfill and Recycling Center – 3714 Waste Management Way (Entrance on Route 17).
Belroi – 5122 Hickory Ford Road
Dutton – 10430 Burke’s Pond Road
Court House – 6550 Beehive Drive
Hayes – 7599 Guinea Road
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Trees will be mulched along with other yard debris. Mulch is provided free of charge to county residents from the main landfill location. However, residents are strongly encouraged to call ahead to ensure mulch is available for pickup.
Hampton
When: Ongoing
Where: Trees will be picked up at curbside on regular trash collection day. Residents can also bring naturally grown trees to be recycled at the Yard Waste Transfer Site, 100 N. Park Lane (off Big Bethel Road at entrance to Bethel Landfill) from 8 AM to 3 PM. Monday – Saturday (closed city holidays).
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Place natural trees separate from bulk waste and regular trash. Do not put in a bag or put netting around it. Artificial trees should not be placed with leaves, grass or tree branches. Trees will be mulched or composted at the VPPSA Composting Facility. Mulch and compost are available for purchase by the public at the composting facility.
Isle of Wight
When: Ongoing
Where: Natural Christmas trees can be recycled at any of Isle of Wight’s Refuse & Recycling Centers.
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Trees will be composted.
James City County
When: Dec. 26-Jan. 31
Where: Natural trees can be recycled at any of James City County’s Convenience Centers.
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Trees will be composted.
Newport News
When: Ongoing
Where: Natural trees are recyclable as regular brush, and may be placed on the curb as brush collection.
What to know: Please remove the root ball and any non-natural decorations including tinsel and lights. Place tree in a brush pile separate from any bulk trash being set out. Christmas trees (live or artificial) may also be brought to the Recovery Operations Center located at 550 Atkinson Way. Natural trees will be composted or mulched.
Norfolk
When: Dec. 26-Jan. 31
Where: Natural trees may be placed at the curb for mulching on your regular trash collection day. Natural trees can also be dropped off at the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center – 1176 Pineridge Road, Monday through Saturday, 10 AM – 2 PM.
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights.
Poquoson
When: Dec. 26–Jan. 20
Where: Residents can drop off natural trees to be composted at the Municipal Pool Parking Lot (16 Municipal Drive, Poquoson)
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Trees will be mulched or composted at the VPPSA Composting Facility. Christmas trees and yard waste are accepted year-round at the VPPSA Compost Facility (located at 145 Goodwin Neck Road, York County), Monday – Saturday, 8 AM – 4 PM. Mulch and compost are available for purchase by the public at the composting facility.
Portsmouth
When: Ongoing
Where: Natural trees may be placed at the curb for pickup on your regular trash collection day.
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Trees will be taken to the City Landfill and mulched.
Smithfield
When: Through Jan. 11
Where: Curbside
What to know: You must contact Kathy Bew-Jones at 365-4200 or [email protected] and provide your address if you have a Christmas tree to be picked up. Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel, garland and lights. Trees will be mulched.
Suffolk
When: Dec. 26-Jan. 5
Where: Curbside
What to know: Christmas trees will be handled as normal debris but during this two-week period, collections will not count against your 12 free bulk pickup collections.
Surry County
When: Jan. 1-Jan. 31
Where: Surry County Collection Centers (listed below)
Goodson Path Solid Waste Station – 409 Goodson Path, Dendron
Pineview Solid Waste Station – 101 Pineview Road, Waverly
Mantura Road Solid Waste Station – 60 Mantura Road, Surry
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Please ask attendants for assistance to ensure that your tree is placed in the designated container.
Virginia Beach
When: Normal trash collection day
Where: Curbside or the Virginia Beach Landfill and Resource Recovery Center at 1989 Jake Sears Road with proof of residency.
What to know: Christmas trees will be handled as normal yard debris and need to be free of any decorations or tinsel. All trees and yard debris will be mulched.
Williamsburg
When: Jan. 2 and Jan. 8
Where: Curbside
What to know: The City Crews will be collecting Christmas trees on Tuesday, January 2 and Monday, January 8. Trees must be placed at the curb before 7 AM and should be free of the stand, ornaments and lights. Please place separately from bulk waste and regular trash. Trees will be mulched.
York County
When: Jan. 8-Jan. 12
Where: Curbside – tree must be at curb by 7 AM on January 4 for collection that week
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel, lights and should be no bigger than six feet in length. For all York County residents, including non-subscribers, Christmas trees are accepted throughout January at the VPPSA Compost Facility (located at 145 Goodwin Neck Road, York County), Monday – Saturday, 8 AM – 4 PM. York County residents who subscribe to the trash program may bring yard waste to the VPPSA Compost Facility year-round.