As the Christmas season comes to an end, so do the lives of “o tannenbaum.”
For those disposing of their pine trees post-holiday, cities in Hampton Roads offer composting as a more sustainable option to dumping them.
Before being dropped off at the curb or respective recycling facility, trees should be free of all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the stand.
___
York County
When: Jan. 6-10
Where: Curbside or a designated drop-off site within the community where residents can bring their trees (with HOA or community management approval). The designated site needs to be in a location with access to the large knuckle boom truck used for collections. All York County residents may deliver their Christmas trees to the VPPSA Compost Facility (145 Goodwin Neck Road), Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What to know: Residents must place their tree at curbside by 7 a.m. on Jan. 6. Trees should be free of all lights, tinsel, ornaments, tree stand and should not be bagged. Trees larger than 6 feet should be cut in half. Trees will be composted.
___
Poquoson
When: Dec. 25 to Jan. 21
Residents can drop off natural trees at the Municipal Pool Parking Lot at 18 Municipal Drive, where trees will be composted.
___
Gloucester
When: Dec. 26 to Jan. 31
Residents may place Christmas trees in the brush container at any of the five Gloucester County Convenience Centers in mulch containers. Trees will be mulched for use as cost-saving landfill cover.
___
Hampton
When: Starts Dec. 26
Trees will be picked up curbside on trash collection day. Trees should be separated from bulk or regular trash by at least 3 feet, and they should be away from electrical or utility wires. Residents can also bring naturally grown trees to be recycled at the Yard Waste Transfer Site located at 100 North Park Lane. Trees will be turned to mulch or compost, which will be available for purchase by the public at the composting facility.
___
Isle of Wight County
When: Ongoing
Christmas trees can be dropped off at any of Isle of Wight County’s Refuse & Recycling Centers.
___
James City County
When: Jan. 2 to Feb. 4
Trees can be dropped off at any of the county’s three convenience centers free of charge during operating hours. Trees will be mulched or composted.
___
Newport News
When: Dec. 28 to Jan. 30
Trees can be picked up curbside during regular bulk collection week or dropped off Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Recovery Operations Center located at 520 Atkinson Blvd. Trees will be mulched or composted.
___
Norfolk
When: Dec. 26 to Jan. 31
Trees can be picked up curbside on regularly scheduled trash collection day. Residents should place them next to their green bin. Drop off is also available at the Norfolk Waste Management Facility located at 1176 Pineridge Road. The collection area will be at the former Household Hazardous Waste Convenience site by the recycling dumpsters. Trees may be dropped off at any time, and trees will be recycled.
___
Chesapeake
When: Ongoing
Trees will be picked up at curbside on regular trash collection day.
___
Portsmouth
When: Ongoing
Trees should be on the curb on the regularly scheduled trash collection day.
___
Suffolk
When: Dec. 26 to Jan. 5
For two weeks after Christmas, the collection of a Christmas tree does not count against the 12 free special pickups for residents allowed each year. Trees should be placed on the curb.
___
Virginia Beach
When: Ongoing
Where: Trees can be placed curbside or dropped off at the City Landfill and Resource Recovery Center located at 1989 Jake Sears Road. Trees placed curbside will be collected as yard waste on normal collection days and hauled to the landfill. Trees dropped off at the City Landfill and Resource Recovery Center will be chipped and used for mulch.
There is also a local donation event happening at the Virginia Aquarium Dec. 28 to Jan 9. The Virginia Aquarium will partner with Marine Stewards America to collect and recycle bare and live-cut Christmas trees in support of marine-focused conservation.
Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com