ADVISORY: ‘Tis the Season to Not Let XMas Trees Go to Waste!

Holiday Tips from Denver Fire & Denver Recycles

DENVER – As people start to hang their “stockings by the chimney with care”, they also need to make sure they’re taking care with their Christmas tree before and after the holiday season! The Denver Fire Department recommends Christmas trees be at least three feet away from any heat source such as fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents, or lights. One in every four fires during the holiday season are caused by a heat source that is too close to a tree.

In addition, holiday lights should not have any fraying, damage or wear as that could also cause a tree to catch fire. Finally, it’s important to water Christmas trees every day – dry trees could easily go up in flames.

After Christmas, people can give their tree the gift of a second life! Denver residents can recycle Christmas trees through Denver’s Treecycle program. For a two-week period, Denver Solid Waste Management customers can place trees out for recycling on their scheduled trash collection day through Friday, January 17.

How to participate in the 2020 Treecycle program:

• Remove all decorations, lights, and tree stands.
• From Monday, January 6 to Friday, January 17, trees can be set out for collection at normal trash set-out locations no later than 7:00am.
• Please set trees at least two feet away from trash, compost, and recycling containers, as well as cars and other obstacles. Do not place trees inside bags or collection carts.
• Only real trees are accepted for recycling; no artificial or flocked trees.

Denver residents who are unable to participate in Treecycle can recycle their trees for free at two drop-off locations through Thursday, January 30:

• Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-Off (7352 E. Cherry Creek Drive South)
• Havana Nursery (10450 Smith Road)

It’s important for residents to keep in mind, there will be no Extra Trash service during Treecycle.

All trees collected during Treecycle will be turned into mulch, which will be made available for free to Denver residents at the annual Mulch Giveaway and Compost Sale in the spring!

For more information about Treecycle or drop-off locations and hours, please visit denvergov.org/treecycle.

###