Residents encouraged to reduce holiday waste by recycling natural Christmas trees

Before recycling a natural tree, all lights, tinsel, wire, ornaments and stands must be removed

VANCOUVER – Clark County residents who are among the millions of people buying natural Christmas trees this holiday season can utilize local options to recycle their trees, giving them a new purpose after the holidays are over.

Recycled Christmas trees are chipped into mulch, which is a natural and low-cost product that can help conserve water and beautify garden beds and landscaping. When organic waste, like trees, rots in landfills, it creates methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Before recycling a natural tree, all lights, tinsel, wire, ornaments and stands must be removed. Flocked and artificial trees cannot be recycled and should be disposed of in the garbage. Artificial trees in good condition may be donated to thrift stores or through buy-nothing groups on social media.

Waste Connections will accept natural trees from customers subscribed to yard debris or organics collection service. Taller trees must be cut into pieces no longer than five feet. Customers can place tree pieces inside of or next to their yard debris or organics cart for pickup on their scheduled service day. An additional fee applies if the tree is in addition to a full yard debris or organics cart.

Residents can also recycle natural trees of any size for a small fee (typically $5 or less) at the following locations:

• Central Transfer and Recycling, 11034 NE 117th Ave., 360.256.8482 
• City Bark, 2419 NE Andresen Road, 360.253.8461 
• H&H Wood Recyclers, 8401 NE 117th Ave., 360.892.2805 
• McFarlane’s Bark, 8806 NE 117th Ave., 360.892.6125 
• Triangle Resources, 612 SE Union St., Camas, 360.834.7253 
• West Van Materials Recovery Center, 6601 NW Old Lower River Road, 360.737.1727

Scouting America will collect trees for recycling in many areas of Clark County on Saturday, Jan. 4. The service is free, but donations are accepted. Flyers will be distributed in neighborhoods where this service will be offered. The Scout Tree Recycling website also has information about neighborhoods where pickup service will be available.

Waste Connections customers who do not have yard debris or organics service can put cut trees next to their garbage carts for disposal, and will be charged for an extra 32-gallon collection. Trees collected with garbage will be sent to the landfill and won’t be recycled.

More information about holiday waste and disposal is available on the Clark County Green Neighbors website.

For information about road and park projects, closures, opportunities for community input, and more, residents can follow Public Works on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook and Instagram and view information on Nextdoor. Residents can also visit clark.wa.gov/public-works to sign up for email notifications.

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Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.