Don’t Trash That Tree! CVWMA Offers Free Recycling Instead
Central Virginia residents can recycle their Christmas trees for free this holiday season. Here’s how.
Trying to figure out what to do with your Christmas tree once the holidays are over can be a hassle. Thankfully for Richmond residents, though, that disposal process just became a lot simpler. On December 19, the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA) announced that several of its locations will be accepting and recycling Christmas trees for free. The initiative is designed to help residents “go green” by properly recycling their trees after the holiday season.
The recycling program begins on December 26. An ID is required to drop off your tree to prove that you’re a Richmond resident—the CVWMA has indicated it will only accept trees from people who live in its respective districts. After the CVWMA has collected the trees, they’ll be recycled into a mulch-type chipped product that’ll be used for landscaping. So, not only will you be able to take your decorations down in a timely manner this year, but you’ll be helping the environment while you’re at it.
Now, let’s go over how to prep your tree for recycling and where you can drop it off in Richmond (and beyond).
How to prep your tree for recycling
Getting your tree ready for recycling is easy. First, take off any ornaments, tinsel, lights, and hooks, and remove the tree from its stand. You don’t need to bag it, but if it’s over eight feet tall, it’s recommended that you cut it into two sections if possible. If you can’t do that safely, no worries—assistance is available at most recycling sites if needed. After you’ve taken everything off the tree, bring it to your nearest donation site and let CVWMA handle the rest.
NOTE: Artificial trees aren’t typically accepted through natural tree collection programs. For those, you’ll need to do a quick online search to find general donation centers near you that may accept artificial ones.
Here are a few places where you can properly dispose of your tree
Once your tree is ready to be recycled, click here for a complete list of donation locations run by the CVWMA. If you live in Richmond itself and want to make things even simpler, pencil the “Bring One for the Chipper” event into your calendar for Saturday, January 10. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the city is accepting natural Christmas trees (as well as electronics and personal documents) for recycling at 1710 Robin Hood Road. All trees and other items will be recycled for free, but you’ll need an ID for this as well, for proof of residency.
In Henrico County, free Christmas tree drop-off locations are as follows:
- Charles City Road Public Use Area, 2075 Charles City Road
- Eastern Government Center, 3820 Nine Mile Road (front parking lot)
- Springfield Road Public Use Area, 10600 Fords Country Lane (near Nuckols Road and I-295)
- Henrico County Government Center, 4301 E. Parham Road (lower parking lot)
Trees are accepted from December 26 to January 9, usually between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. For more information on recycling your tree in Henrico County, click this link.
For all Virginia residents, the CVWMA notes that real Christmas trees can be placed near wildlife habitats, but they’re usually not eligible for weekly trash collection (though you may need to check your specific county’s rules for that one). Local animal rescue centers and zoos may also be participating in recycling programs, as well as the Department of Wildlife Resources. The Virginia State Parks website has more information on that here.
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