Do You Know How To Properly Recycle Your Christmas Trees & Holiday Trash In Charlotte-Mecklenburg?
Disposing of your Christmas tree and holiday trash in the Charlotte/Mecklenburg, North Carolina area is simple. Charlotte City's Solid Waste Services will pick up Christmas trees beginning January 2nd, as part of its regular waste collection schedule. Put your tree (free of ornaments, wires, and lights) curbside by 6:30 am on the day of scheduled collections in your neighborhood. (And please don't block the sidewalk with your tree.) Artificial trees should be scheduled for bulky item collection. You can schedule pickup for bulky items by calling 311, visiting curbit.charlottenc.gov, or using the CLT+ app.
Mecklenburg County residents can also drop off their trees at one of these four full-service recycling centers:
- North Mecklenburg Yard Waste Facility, 12300 N. Statesville Road
- Compost Central Mulch and Composting, 5631 West Blvd.
- Hickory Grove Yard Waste Facility, 8007 Pence Road
- Foxhole Yard Waste Facility, 17131 Lancaster Highway
What Happens To Christmas Trees After Recycling?
Have you ever wondered what happens to all those Christmas trees once they are picked up? The trees are chipped and made into a mulch which is made available, free to city or county residents. Important Warning: Never burn your Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove. Burning the tree may contribute to creosote buildup and could cause a chimney fire.
How To Recycle Artificial Christmas Trees
If you have an artificial tree you want to dispose of, call 311 to schedule.
If you live in a townhome, condo, or rental complex, also call 311 to schedule a pickup.
How Much Trash Do Americans Generate Each Holiday Season?
According to Stanford University, Americans throw away 25% more trash from Thanksgiving to New Year's than at any other time of year equating to an additional 25 million tons of garbage, or about 1 million extra tons per week. $11 billion of packing material is thrown away each year. 15 million Christmas trees are thrown away each year. Over one million tons of food waste is generated in the USA from Thanksgiving through New Year's, creating a need for more than 45,000 garbage truck trips to a landfill.
If every household reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet. If every household wrapped just three presents in re-used materials, the paper saved could cover 45,000 football fields. The almost three billion Christmas cards sold each year in the could fill a football field 10 stories high; and if everyone sent just one card less, 50,000 cubic yards of paper could be saved.
The Right Way To Dispose Of Holiday Cardboard Boxes In Charlotte
There is a right and wrong way to dispose of all those cardboard boxes from holiday gifts. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Solid Waste Services has updated the requirements for cardboard preparation in an effort to improve service quality for residents. The new preparation requirements allow all recyclables to fall loosely into automated recycling trucks, improving the collection quality and process. Tear or cut cardboard into small pieces that will fit loosely into your cart. Please do not fold. Watch this video to make sure your cardboard is prepared properly for pick up.
RECYCLING TIP: DONATE YOUR GENTLY USED DECORATIONS & ARTIFICIAL TREES
Another great way to recycle Christmas decorations is to donate them. Charlotte Region ReStore welcome donations of gently used decorations, including artificial trees, inflatables, and more. They will pick up large objects at no charge. Request a donation pick-up here.
This information about how to properly dispose of your Christmas trees and holiday trash in Charlotte, North Carolina is provided by Nina Hollander with Coldwell Banker Realty, Greater Charlotte area residential real estate experts. We've been opening doors for Charlotte region home buyers and sellers for 22+ years.
If you're considering purchasing or selling a home in the Greater Charlotte area, I'd love an opportunity to earn your business, to exceed your expectations, and to show you why experience matters and how:
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