(Washington, DC) Today, Mayor Bowser, led by the Department of Public Works (DPW), announced that Christmas trees and holiday greenery will be collected from homes that receive DPW curbside between January 3 and February 28, 2022. Trees and greenery can be left at the normal point of collection for trash and recycling or at the curbside. Items collected during this period will be composted; in the spring, the mulch will be provided to residents at no cost.
Residents can also drop their Christmas trees and/or holiday greenery at one of four locations:
- Benning Road Transfer Station (3200 Benning Road NE)
- Fort Totten Transfer Station (4900 John F. McCormack Drive NE)
- Bryant Street Sweep Shop (201 Bryant Street NW)
- South Capitol Street Graffiti Shop (2700 South Capitol Street SE)
Highlights of the 2022 collection program include:
- Collection for DPW-serviced households. Residents who receive curbside collection service from DPW (single-family homes and apartment buildings containing three or fewer housing units) are eligible for Christmas tree and holiday greenery collection. Households not serviced by DPW (for example, larger apartment buildings) should consult with their landlord/property owner for collection procedures.
- Where to place trees and greenery. DPW will collect Christmas trees from the normal point of collection for trash/recycling or curbside.
- Remove decorations. When setting items out for collection, residents should remove all ornaments and lights. Do not place trees and greenery in a bag.
- Trees become free compost for residents. Trees and greenery collected through February 28 will be composted. District residents can collect up to five 32-gallon bags of the free compost year-round while supplies last at the Fort Totten Transfer Station. Residents must bring their own bags.
- Composting not guaranteed after February 28. After that date, residents can still place Christmas trees and holiday greenery where their trash is collected; however, composting is not guaranteed. The items will be picked up with the trash as space in DPW trucks permits.
- Steps if Christmas tree and/or holiday greenery was not collected. Contact 311 to create a “Christmas Tree Removal - Seasonal” service request.
- Safety protocols in place. To help safeguard employees and the community, DPW crews will continue to wear masks, practice social distancing, hand wash and hand sanitize frequently. Vehicles and equipment will be cleaned and sanitized before and after every shift.
“Holiday trees and greenery bring much decorative joy over the holidays, and our collection program allows the good feelings to continue by giving those materials renewed life — as compost, which furthers Mayor Bowser’s Zero Waste goals,” said DPW Acting Director Christine Davis. “We encourage residents to dispose of their trees and greenery before February 28 so they can be used to fertilize gardens rather than fill up landfills.”
Throughout the holidays, District residents are also encouraged to recycle the following items: holiday food containers like eggnog cartons, cans, and pie tins; non-metallic wrapping paper; and empty, flattened gift and cardboard shipping boxes. Holiday ribbon is not recyclable and should be placed in the trash. String LED lights can be dropped off at the Fort Totten Transfer Station for electronic waste recycling.
Visit dpw.dc.gov for more information about Christmas tree and holiday greenery collection. For more information on recycling this holiday season, visit zerowaste.dc.gov.
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