Yard waste sites around the state are accepting used Christmas trees now through Jan. 28.
Matt Beck, an engineer with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Section, says recycling your Christmas tree saves space in landfills across the state.
That’s where they used to go before the state implemented a yard waste ban a decade ago.
“The less things that get mixed into landfills, the better,” Beck said. “It takes away a resource.”
And Beck says trees, in general, take up a pretty big portion of waste. In 2016, 200,000 of the 1.2 million tons of waste disposed was yard waste — including trees.
Once trees are recycled and turned into yard waste, they’re used as mulch and compost.
“Not only is your tree going to be able to be used for mulch but it’s going to keep a mulching company from needing to acquire mulch from other virgin trees,” Beck said.
DNREC says residents must remove decorations from their trees, including hooks, ornaments and tinsel — before they bring them to recycling.
For more information on yard waste, click here.
Sites accepting Christmas trees:
New Castle County
Polly Drummond Hill Road Community Yard Waste Demonstration Site
Located in the Pike Creek area on Polly Drummond Hill Road, about .5 miles north of Kirkwood Hwy.
Hours are Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. - sunset, through Jan. 14.
Will close Jan. 15.
Copeland’s Mulch Depot (free for trees purchased at Copeland’s; $5 otherwise)
2 Honeysuckle Dr., Stanton, DE 19804;
302-633-9536
Hours: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday.
The facility is open starting Jan. 2.
Sussex County
Blessings Greenhouses
9372 Draper Rd., Milford, DE 19963
302-393-3273
Hours: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Blue Hen Organics
33529 Fox Run Road, Frankford, DE 19945
302-732-3211
Hours: 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
Grizzly’s Landscape Supply Service
14680 Coastal Hwy, Milton, DE 19968
302-644-0654
Hours: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
Mr. Mulch
22288 Coverdale Road, Seaford, DE 19973
302-629-5737
Hours: 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Millville Organic Center
Whites Neck Road (0.5 miles North of Rt. 26) Millville, DE 19967
302-423-2601
Hours: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Closed Dec. 25 - Jan. 1, 2018.
Selbyville Mulch, Stone, & Soil (free for active customers within the last 6 months)
38205 DuPont Boulevard, Selbyville, DE 19975
302-436-8286
Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday.
Stockley Materials
25136 DuPont Boulevard, Georgetown, DE 19947
302-856-7601
Hours: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Kent County
Kent County will collect Christmas trees from Jan. 8-12 and Jan. 15-19 (on your regular trash day) for customers in trash districts that have yard waste collection service.
Hours may vary, and DNREC recommends calling ahead.