Dear Eartha,
Each year my family cuts down our own Christmas tree, but we are never sure what to do with it after the Holidays. What is the best way to dispose of our tree in the new year?
Nothing says Christmas like the smell of a freshly cut pine tree. Some of my best childhood memories include our annual trips to cut down the perfect Christmas tree, followed by a steaming cup of hot chocolate with extra marshmallows of course. I love that this is still a tradition for so many families. But once we ring in the new year, that Christmas tree is typically dried out. It’s best to dispose of your tree in a way that returns it to the Earth in the safest way possible. Luckily for us here in Summit County, we have five different places to drop our Christmas trees off for recycling.
Rules for Recycling Your Tree
You’ll need to follow some ground rules before you drop your tree off to be recycled. Take down (and trash, or preferably reuse) that tinsel or garland. Remove and box up all those ornaments that make you smile at the memories they bring. Hopefully they all survived little hands and paws this year. Carefully untangle those light strands from your tree’s branches. Basically, make sure your tree is back to the way you found it in the forest.
Cheerfully Convenient Drop Off Sites
No matter where you live in the county, you will be able to drop your tree off within minutes, at no cost to you. Basking in a Breckenridge Christmas? You can drop your tree off at the Stilson Lot (off of Stables Rd near the Wellington neighborhood). There’s currently construction underway, and please know there will be signs to help direct you to the right spot. Trees are accepted through January 31.
Dashing through Dillon? Drop by the Dillon Amphitheatre Parking Lot (next to the Marina Park Playground) to dispose of your tree through January 31.
Skating around Silverthorne? Stop by the Trent Park overflow lot (by the Willowbrook neighborhood entrance). Trees are accepted after Christmas through January 31. If you have any questions, please contact Silverthorne Public Works at (970) 262-7346.
Live near Keystone or heading there to ski? Drop your tree off at the Summit County Resource Allocation Park (SCRAP) located at 639 Landfill Rd, Keystone. Trees are accepted after Christmas through January 31, during normal business hours. The SCRAP is open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 7 am to 12 pm. They are closed on Sundays.
The Christmas trees that are dropped off at these locations will be chipped and made into High Country Compost. And if you’ve lived in Summit County for long, you know how amazing our compost is! The only location that does not turn your tree into compost is Frisco, and it’s all in the name of fun.
Feeling festive? Take your tree to the Frisco Bay Marina dirt lot (behind Uncle John’s Farm Stand and at the southeast corner of Summit Blvd. and Main St). Trees will be accepted after Christmas until 4pm on February 10. The Town of Frisco will use those trees for fuel at the annual Spontaneous Combustion Bonfire. Please know that while this is a fun event for the community, burning your Christmas tree in your home fireplace is a huge fire hazard. Leave this type of thing to the experts who have all the safety measures in place.
A Holly Jolly Future
Nothing brings the community together like a bonfire on a chilly winter’s night. And, when Christmas trees are recycled, that holiday cheer can last all year long in the form of locally-made compost. Soils made healthy through compost give way to nutritious vegetables, thriving house plants, and beautiful yards. Talk about a present everyone on your list can get behind. For more information on having a sustainable holiday season in Summit County, visit HighCountryConservation.org/holiday.