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How to recycle Christmas trees in Hampton Roads

Whether you are disposing of your tree or recycling it, city officials ask people to remove all lights, ornaments, and decorations.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Christmas holiday has come to a close.

When you decide it’s time to pack away your decorations and take down the Christmas tree, some organizations and business owners in Virginia Beach will take it off your hands and help the environment too.

Chicho’s Pizza co-owner Matt Potter is gearing up to take a trailer full of real trees to the Outer Banks.

“Last year we took about 1,500 down," he said.

Potter is partnering with Better Beaches OBX for the sixth year to help with dune restoration projects.

"They take them and they have certain areas they put them in, either in sand fences or existing dunes," Potter said. "The wind will come through and push all the sand on the trees and basically recreate that dune."

The Chicho's collection is one day only on January 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at three of the restaurant's locations.

"Town Center, Greenbrier, and 29th Street," Potter said.

The Virginia Aquarium works with Marine Stewards of America to collect live-cut trees to help sand dunes too. Organizers ask people to bring trees to the Aquarium’s East Parking lot from December 26 through January 6. 

The City of Virginia Beach will accept trees at the Landfill and Resource Recovery Center on Jake Sears Road. Officials said city landscape crews will use the trees for mulch.

Potter said his team collected 3,000 trees one year, and he hopes to keep the environmentally friendly tradition going.

“A lot of us all vacation down in the Outer Banks, so why not help preserve the spot that is special to all of us?" Potter asked.

If you can’t take your tree to one of those locations for recycling, you can still sit it at the curb in most cities.

City officials in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, and Chesapeake said they will accept live trees on regular collection days. 

Suffolk is also accepting curbside disposal but city crews have extra guidelines for residents: between December 26, 2023, and January 5, 2024, the removal of Christmas trees and boxes will not be considered part of the 12 free special collections. 

There is no requirement to secure trees or collapse boxes. Suffolk officials said while trees placed for collection after January 5th will still be picked up, they will be counted as a special collection.

In Newport News, people are asked to place their trees curbside during the regular bulk collection week. People can also drop their trees off at the Recovery Operations Center located at 520 Atkinson Boulevard through Saturday.

The city of Portsmouth says that after filling out the bulk pick-up form on their site or calling 757-393-8629, people can put their tres on the curb on their regular trash pick-up day.

Whether you are disposing of your tree or recycling it, city officials ask people to remove all lights, ornaments, and decorations.

If you haven't yet disposed of your tree because you're trying to figure out the best way to do so, here are some tips:

  • Landfill and Resource Recovery Center: Residents who take their trees to Virginia Beach's Landfill and Resource Recovery Center, located at 1989 Jake Sears Road, will be happy to know that their trees will be chipped and used for mulch by City landscape crews. Trees must be free of their stand, lights, ornaments, and tinsel.
  • Beaches: Residents should NEVER place trees on area beaches. Beach Operations and the City’s Landscape Services work to manage our beautiful sand dunes. Trees contain a lot of sap, and once dry are a fire hazard. Trees can also end up in the water and pose a safety concern for marine life, boaters and swimmers.
  • Return to Seller: Some of the local nurseries have take-back programs. Check with the location where you purchased your tree to see if they take them back. If not, check with one that does, and they might take yours as well.
  • Local Drop-Offs: Local businesses have offered to accept trees. Be on the lookout for announcements via social media or local news stations for businesses that are collecting trees.
  • Faux Tree: If your fake tree is a bit scraggly and you no longer have a use for it, consider donating. Hampton Roads is full of wonderful charitable organizations that would gladly accept your donated tree.

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