San Diego residents looking for a place to recycle their Christmas tree have an array of options.
Greg Henninger, a San Marcos resident, took his tree to the San Marcos Senior Center.
“This is way easier because our community recycle bins and trash cans are always immensely packed right after Christmas, so you just strap the tree to the top of the Jeep and bring it down here," Henninger said.
The waste company running the recycling spot, EDCO, has set up free Christmas tree recycling locations throughout the county.
People can drop off their trees to be recycled at an EDCO location from now until Jan. 9.
EDCO clients also can use tree curbside pickup, but the tree needs to be cut into pieces and undecorated.
Curbside tree pickups are free from now until Jan. 10 on regular collection days.
In the city of San Diego, the 48th annual Christmas tree recycling program starts Tuesday in hopes of encouraging residents to properly dispose of their holiday trees.
San Diego's Environmental Services Department features 17 locations where residents can drop off their Christmas trees to be recycled.
"We encourage residents to bring their clean, undecorated Christmas trees to any of the 17 drop-off locations within the city," said City Councilman Chris Cate.
"Recycling these trees helps us reduce the amount of waste going into the Miramar landfill, and it helps the city meet its sustainability goals by converting the trees into high-quality mulch and compost that residents can pick up for free at the Miramar Landfill," said Cate.
RELATED: Supply chain issues, climate change creating shortage of Christmas trees
All tree stands, bags, netting, lights, ornaments, tinsel and other tree decorations must be removed. No artificial trees are accepted.
Contact your waste service provider for additional details or large item pickups.
BONSALL
Tree drop-off locations: River Village, 5256 S. Mission Road, Bonsall
CARLSBAD
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 14
Tree drop-off locations: Calaveras Park, 2997 Glasgow Drive; Stagecoach Park, 3420 Camino de los Coches; Fire Station 2, 1275 Carlsbad Village Drive; Poinsettia Park, 6600 Hidden Valley Road; and Waste Management, 5960 El Camino Real.
CORONADO
Tree drop-off locations: Until Jan. 15 are Glorietta Bay Park (boat ramp parking lot), 1975 Strand Way, and Coronado Cays (parking lot across Fire Station on Grand Caribe Causeway).
DEL MAR
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 14
Tree drop-off locations: Public Works yard, 2240 Jimmy Durante Blvd.
EL CAJON
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 14.
Tree drop-off locations: Until Jan. 7. Wells Park, 1153 E Madison Ave.; Renette Recreation Center, 935 S. Emerald Ave., and Public Works Operations Yard, 1050 Vernon Way.
ENCINITAS
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7;
ESCONDIDO
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7;
Tree drop-off locations: Until Jan. 7 at Kit Carson Park, south entrance, across from the adult softball complex and at Jesmond Dene Park.
FALLBROOK
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7;
Tree drop-off locations: Until Jan. 8 at the Fallbrook Transfer Station, 550 W Aviation Road, or River Village, 5256 S. Mission Road, in the northwest parking lot.
IMPERIAL BEACH
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7;
Tree drop-off locations: Until Jan. 25 at Imperial Beach Public Works, 495 10th St., or Boys & Girls Club, 847 Encina Ave.
LA MESA
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7;
Tree drop-off locations: EDCO Station, 8184 Commercial St.;
LEMON GROVE
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7;
Tree drop-off locations: Until Jan. 16 at Treganza Heritage Park, formerly Civic Center Park, 3200 Main St.
NATIONAL CITY
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7.
Tree drop-off locations: Until Jan. 15 at Las Palmas Park, 1800 E. 22nd St. pool parking lot.
OCEANSIDE
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 14
Tree drop-off locations: El Corazon Compost Facility, 3210 Oceanside Blvd.
POWAY
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7.
RAMONA
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7.
Tree drop-off locations: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 27-31 and Jan. 8-10 at Ramona High School, 1401 Hanson Lane, and The Village Shopping Center in SD Country Estates.
SAN DIEGO
The city of San Diego’s annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program runs Dec. 26 through Jan. 23 and includes 17 drop-off locations for city residents; check site hours:
Carmel Valley: Carmel Valley Recreation Center, 3777 Townsgate Drive (lower parking lot)
Encanto: Cielo Drive at Woodman Street
Golden Hill: Golden Hill Recreation Center, 2600 Golf Course Drive
La Jolla: Kate Sessions Memorial Park, corner of Mount Soledad Road and Loring Street
Logan Heights: Memorial Recreation Center, 2902 Marcy Ave.
Miramar: Miramar Greenery Recycling at Miramar Landfill, 5180 Convoy St.
Mission Bay: SeaWorld Drive at Pacific Highway
Mountain View: Ocean View Boulevard at 40th Street (north side)
Oak Park: Chollas Lake, 6350 College Grove Drive (Gloria Mesa parking lot)
Ocean Beach: Robb Field Recreation Center, 2525 Bacon St.
Otay Mesa/Nestor: Montgomery Waller Community Park (lower parking lot, southeast corner of Palm Avenue and Beyer Boulevard)
Rancho Bernardo: Rancho Bernardo Recreation Center, 18448 W. Bernardo Drive
Rancho Penasquitos: Canyonside Recreation Center, 12350 Black Mountain Road
San Diego State University: Parking lot 17 off Alvarado Road
Scripps Ranch: Scripps Ranch Recreation Center, 11454 Blue Cypress Drive
Tierrasanta: Tierrasanta Community Park, 11220 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. (pool parking lot)
University City: Standley Community Park (parking lot), 3585 Governor Drive
Visit sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/events/christmas.
SAN MARCOS
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7.
Tree drop-off locations: San Marcos Senior Center, 111 Richmar Ave.
SANTEE
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7.
Tree drop-off locations: Santee customers can drop off trees through Jan. 7 at Waste Management Recycle Center, 925 O’Connor St., El Cajon.
SOLANA BEACH
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7.
Tree drop-off locations: Until Jan. 8 at City Hall, 635 Highway 101 South, and La Colonia Park, 715 Valley Ave.
VALLEY CENTER
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7.
Tree drop-off locations: Until Jan. 8 at Valley Center Elementary School lower parking lot, 28751 Cole Grade Road.
VISTA
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7.
Tree drop-off locations: Until Jan. 9 at the public lot at Vale Terrace and Williamston, or lot at South Melrose Drive and Shadowridge Drive.
UNINCORPORATED SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Residential Pick Up: Dec. 27 through Jan. 7.
