Patch’s Guide to Christmas Tree Recycling

The holidays are gone in a blur of eggnog and reindeer. You're left with torn holiday wrap, too many cookies and a dead tree. Patch is here to help you cope with the aftermath with this guide to recycling your holiday waste.

The city of Santa Cruz offers three ways to recycle holiday trees according to Elliot Vega, Resource Recovery Supervisor for the city of Santa Cruz.

During the second week of January, trees can be placed next to trash bins during regular collection days. This service is available only for trees that are six feet or shorter. You can cut your tree into smaller pieces if you have a larger one. You must leave a minimum of three feet between your tree and trash bins to allow for collection access.

Another option is to trim your tree down to fit into your green waste bin. The lid must be able to close and the materials inside must be able to slide out when the truck comes to empty it.

Santa Cruz resident Thomas Boher said when his Christmas tree is done, he "usually takes it to the recycling center where it gets turned into mulch."

And that's your third option. You can take your tree to the Santa Cruz drop off site for recycling, located at the Resource Recovery Facility (RRF), 605 Dimeo Ln., 3 miles north of Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz residents and businesses can use the facility for tree disposal as well as waste disposal. Vega said during the month of January, this service is free to Santa Cruz city residents with proof of residency.

RRF is closed on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, but it is open weekdays this week. 

It's not just for Christmas trees

This could also be a good time to drop off any household hazardous waste, such as old paint cans. Hazardous waste items are only accepted on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Sometimes it's hard to figure out what to do with items you no longer need, the ones that go beyond your everyday recycling knowledge. If you are uncertain what to do with old mattresses, dead batteries or expired prescription drugs, the city offers a comprehensive guide, "What do we do with all this STUFF," on their website.

Each municipality has its own refuse system, so you will need to check with your local waste management facility about tree recycling if you live outside of Santa Cruz limits.

And just in case you were thinking of throwing your tree in the Christmas fire to warm up, Vega reminds customers to think twice.

"Christmas trees almost blow up if placed in a fire—they combust when you place them in a fireplace. It's just a bad idea," said Vega.