Christmas is over and that means its time to start thinking about what to do with that Christmas tree thats shedding pine needles all over your home…unless, of course, you have an artificial tree, in which case you can just disassemble it and put it back in its box until next years holiday.
Tacoma-Pierce County residents with real trees can help out the environment when they dispose of this years Christmas tree.
City of Tacoma Solid Waste Management will pick up Christmas trees from residential garbage customers for free.
Apartment, business and Pierce County residents can dispose of trees free of charge by bringing them to the City of Tacoma Landfill.
Tree lot operators and non-profit groups must pay for disposal.
The Tacoma Landfill, located at 3510 S. Mullen St., will accept trees from today through Jan. 20, 2003.
Trees may be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., every day except New Years Day when the Landfill is closed.
Trees must be free of tinsel, ornaments, flocking and stands.
Residential garbage customers: Solid Waste Management will pick up trees on Tacoma residential garbage customers regular recycling and yard waste collection days.
Customers must cut their trees into lengths no longer than three feet and place them next to their yard waste containers.
Flocked trees cannot b recycled and must go in the garbage can.
Tree-lot operators and non-profit groups: In a return to earlier policies, tree lot operators and non-profit groups will be charged $85 a ton for disposal – the citys regular yard waste rate.
In the past, the city chipped the recycled trees and sent them to the Tacoma Steam Plant for use as fuel.
Since the plant has closed, the city does not have this low-cost option and must now charge for the service.
Tree owners and non-profits can also recycle trees at Land Recoverys Earth Products Sales and Recycling Center, located at 10308 Sales Rd. S.
Fees are $35 a ton with a $10 minimum charge.
Call 253/ 589-6993 for more information.
