As the holiday season is upon us, the Streets Department offers a few reminders on how to include RECYCLING RIGHT in your holiday to-do list, announced Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams.
The city will be closed on Mondays, December 26 and January 2 in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. There will be no trash and recycling collections. Residents should set their materials out one day later than normal each of the weeks. Collections will be one day behind the regular schedule for the remainder of both weeks.
The annual residential Christmas Tree Recycling Program runs from Tuesday, January 3 through Saturday, January 14. The 34-year-old program provides residents with an environmentally friendly alternative for the disposal of live trees. Residents who wish to drop off their trees to be recycled may take them to any of the six Sanitation Convenience Centers listed below open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:
3033 S. 63rd Street
2601 W. Glenwood Avenue
Domino Lane & Umbria Street
3901 N. Delaware Avenue
State Road & Ashburner Street
5100 Grays Avenue
Residents may also drop their trees off at 13 designated locations on Saturdays, January 7 and January 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For a successful recycling program, residents should make sure that trees are free of all decorations and untied. Christmas trees with decorations cannot be recycled. Christmas trees present a seasonal addition to the City’s waste stream. By recycling them and returning them to the earth, we reduce our waste costs and create a valuable resource.
In addition to recycling trees, residents may follow these tips to re-use their trees:
• Small pine limbs and needles are good winter mulch material for sensitive plants.
• Trees can also become backyard compost.
• Trees should not be burned in a fireplace. The sap from the tree creates foul odors and can coat the chimney with creosote which can cause a fire.
• Check with your local civic associations that offer additional drop-off locations.
As always, the program is for residents who receive City collected trash and recycling services. Vendors are responsible for making arrangements for the private disposal of their discarded trees.
For those households that cannot participate in the recycling program, trees set out for pick up will be collected on regularly scheduled collection days as trash.
Typically, during the holiday season, more waste is generated. In addition to Christmas trees, there are many more items to recycle during this holiday season. Citizens are reminded of the three “Rs” as a convenient way to practice recycling during the holiday season and year-round. View more recycling Dos and Don’ts on the city’s holiday recycling guide.
Recycle:
Wrapping paper (except glitter or metallic paper) and gift tags.
Glass wine and champagne bottles by rinsing and drying them out.
Soda and beer cans, paper grocery bags, department store sale flyers and catalogs, telephone books and calendars.
Reuse:
Newspaper
Ribbons and bows
Plastic gift cards
Plastic grocery and gift bags
Gift bags
Reduce:
Waste that reaches our landfills
Use less tissue paper and decorations in your packaging
Use less wrapping paper when wrapping your gifts
Learn more recycling Dos and Don’ts as part of the City’s Recycling Program at: www.phila.gov/programs/recycling-program/what-to-recycle/.
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