FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 27, 2016

For more information, contact:
Lauren A. Kinard, Public Information Specialist
Prince George’s County Department of the Environment
(301) 883-5957, lakinard@co.pg.md.us

Be a Holiday Hero. Recycle Your Christmas Tree.
Prince George’s County announces FREE recycling services for Christmas trees

LARGO, MD – The Prince George’s County Department of the Environment (DoE) is encouraging all residents this holiday season to take advantage of a great opportunity to recycle Christmas trees and other post-holiday waste. Starting December 26, 2016 through January 30, 2017, County residents with yard waste collection service may place their Christmas trees, wrapping and tissue paper, holiday cards and gift bags, curbside by 6:30 a.m. on their regularly scheduled yard waste collection day (Mondays) for pickup. All trees must be real (no artificial trees), free from stands, and bare of decorations including lights, ornaments, tinsel and garland. Also, all metal and plastic materials must be removed from trees.

“As we focus on ways to be more sustainable and thoughtful about how we treat the environment this holiday season, County residents can do their part to keep materials that can be reused, recycled and repurposed from going to the landfill. Christmas trees are a great example of an organic material that was once thrown away, but is now collected for recycling. Each year the County produces 2,000 tons of mulch which is shared with County residents for free during our annual Mulch Madness giveaway event in April and used for landscaping throughout the County,” said DoE Director Adam Ortiz.

Unwanted artificial Christmas trees that are in good condition may be donated to a local thrift store for resale; and, Christmas tree and holiday lights, also known as string lights, may be dropped off for recycling at R3 Services, which is located at 5711 Tuxedo Road in Hyattsville, Maryland. Drop-off hours are 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Residential string lights only. Commercial string lights and other holiday decorations are not accepted.   

Residents may also drop-off Christmas trees and other post-holiday waste for free recycling at the following locations:

Brown Station Road Public Convenience Center
3501 Brown Station Road
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Monday through Saturday
7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Prince George’s County Yard Waste Composting Facility
6601 Southeast Crain Highway
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Monday through Friday
7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

For more information, contact CountyClick at 3-1-1.

To schedule an interview on Christmas tree recycling services and other eco-friendly holiday tips, or to schedule a press tour of the Prince George’s County Yard Waste Composting Facility, contact Lauren Kinard at lakinard@co.pg.md.us or (301) 883-5957.

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