Christmas tree recycling underway in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) - As the time comes to take down those holiday decorations, City of Austin officials want to remind residents to give those Christmas trees a second life by recycling them into mulch or compost.

For City of Austin curbside customers, all you have to do to recycle that tree is to set it on the curb.

Beginning Dec. 26, Austin Resource Recovery will pick up all natural trees, along with yard trimmings, on regularly scheduled collection days.

All trees for curbside collection must be cut in half if they are six fee or taller.

Officials aks that you set your tree at the curb by 6:30 a.m.

The collected trees and trimmings will be composted and turned into Dillo Dirt.

If you don't have curbside or just have a tree you'd like to recycle you can do so at the Zilker Park Polo Fields between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Dec. 29, Dec. 30, Jan. 5, 2019 and Jan. 6, 2019.

Officials have these guidelines for tree recycling:

• Trees sprayed with flocking, or artificial snow, are not accepted
• Remove all ornaments, decorations, lights and the tree stand
• Do not place the tree in a “tree bag”
• Only natural trees may be recycled

Mulch from the trees collected at the drop off location will be available on a first come, first serve basis to Austin residents on Jan. 17, 2019.

Officials say recycling Christmas tress keeps nearly 20,000 trees out of landfills annually which helps the City of Austin reach its goal of Zero Waste by 2040.