Once Christmas Leaves, How To Get Rid Of The Trees

Christmas is always a time of good tidings and good cheer, but what happens when that party is over and the once fragrant and beautiful pine tree turns into a prickly, brittle, little brown tree? Where can you dispose of it?

Each year the Prince George's County Department of Environmental Resources provides free Christmas Tree collection and drop off services. Last year, DER Director Charles W. Wilson said that the effort was an eco-friendly way of disposing of unwanted trees.  This year the county continues on with the eco-friendly, waste management initiative.

Residents of Upper Marlboro have several options at their disposal. Tree collection in the area is offered until Jan. 15, 2011.  However for those who do not wish to drag and drop the tree near their weekly trash, there are several places to take the unwanted tree.

Located at 6550 S.E. Crain Highway, the Western Branch Composting Facility offers a free way for residents to dispose of their Christmas trees.  The facility takes one tree per car without charging any fees for the service.  Residents can drop off their trees Monday–Friday between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. For additional information on the facility residents should contact Randy Bolt  at 301-395-2118.

Keeping in line with the reduce, reuse and recycle mantra, the Brown Station Road Sanitary Landfill also accepts unwanted Christmas trees. Open Monday–Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the facility provides a hassle free alternative for recycling your Christmas tree.  Owned and operated by the Prince George's County Government, the facility only accepts trees from Prince George's County residents.