December 16, 2002 - The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) has the solution. The SWMD will kick off its 11th year of Christmas tree recycling at a press conference located at Hermann Square, 901 Bagby on December 27, 2002 at 11:00 a.m. At the end of the press conference, the Christmas tree that has adorned City Hall for the holiday season will be transformed into mulch. The Christmas Tree Recycling program will run from December 26, 2002 through January 12, 2003 (excluding New Year's Day).
Every year, many Houstonians discard thousands of used Christmas trees that could be recycled into useable items. Since the Christmas tree recycling program began, more than 500,000 Christmas trees have been recycled. The City of Houston is encouraging residents to recycle their Christmas trees and give them a new lease on life. The SWMD is requesting that residents remove tinsel, lights, plastic tree stands and plastic water bowls from the trees. The recycled trees will be converted into mulch, which will in turn help save landfill space and help preserve the environment.
Flocked trees will not be accepted for recycling; they will be picked up on the neighborhood's scheduled heavy trash day. Commercial vendor trees will not be accepted.
Houstonians can recycle their tree at any of the following locations across the city:
Harris County Dad's Club Park - Cresent Landing (Between Clear Lake Blvd. and Village Evergreen Trail)
Centerpoint Energy - 2301 Gears Road
Living Earth Technology, a leading composting company in Houston, has partnered with the City of Houston to make this a very cost-effective program for the City.Living Earth Technology composts all the Christmas trees at no cost to the City.
The Solid Waste Management Department provides solid waste services to the citizens of Houston through the collection, disposal and recycling of discarded material in a manner that is safe, efficient, environmentally-sound and cost-effective.
