Skip to content
Health
Link copied to clipboard

Recycle that Christmas tree, Philly!

I once wrote a story about a woman on S. Broad Street who had kept her Christmas tree up for several years. The thing was brown and dry and probably a terrible fire hazard. But she was unusual and interesting and, apparently, a lot of her friends got into the whole deal.

Assuming you're not in that frame of mind: When your tree comes down this year, make sure to recycle it instead of sending it off to a landfill.

The city is accepting trees at three "Sanitation Convenience Center" locations:

3033 South 63rd Street
Domino Lane & Umbria Street
State Road & Ashburner Street

The hours are Monday, Jan. 3, through Saturday, Jan. 15, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Make sure the decorations are off. And no plastic bags, please. For more information, call the Customer Affairs Unit at 215-686-5560.

Meanwhile, on Jan. 8 and 9,  more than 20 local civic and nonprofit organizations are working together to recycle trees, sponsored by Bartlett Tree Experts and Schectman Tree Care.  The groups plan to have the trees chipped and reused to beautify local dog runs, community gardens and parks.

A $5 donation is suggested to help defray the costs. Here are the dates places and times:

Fishtown/Olde Richmond, under the I-95 dog park behind Port Richmond Shopping Center; 9 a.m. to noon. Early drop-off at NKCDC Garden Center at 1825 Frankford Avenue

East Kensington, southwest corner of E. Dauphin & Emerald, across from the Emerald Street Urban Farm; 1 to 4 p.m. Early drop-off at Greensgrow Farms at 2501 E. Cumberland Street

South Philadelphia, Columbus Square Park at 13th and Reed streets;  10 a.m. – 4 p.m. No early drop-off.

Northern Liberties, Orianna Hill Dog Park on the 900 block of N. 3rd St, across from Liberty Lands; 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. No early drop-off.

Logan Square, Boy Scouts Building Parking Lot at 22nd and Winter Streets; 9 a.m. - noon. No early drop-off.

Mt. Airy, Next to Gabbies Garden at Chew Ave near Mt. Airy Ave;  1 – 4 p.m. No early drop-off.

Fairmount, Eastern State Penitentiary at 22nd and Brown streets, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.No early drop-off.

University City, Clark Park at 43rd and Chester streets;  10 a.m. - 4 p.m. No early drop-off.

Here's the honor roll of groups involved: Allens Lane Arts Center | Bartlett Tree Experts | East Kensington Neighborhood Association |East Passyunk Crossing Civic Association | Fishtown Neighbors Association | Friends of Eastern State Penitentiary Park |Green in Chestnut Hill (GRINCH) | Greensgrow Farms| Logan Square Neighborhood Association| Lower Moyamensing Civic Association | Manayunk Green | Mt. Airy Business Association| New Kensington CDC | Newbold Neighbors Association | Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association | Olde Richmond Civic Association | Passyunk Square Civic Association | Queen Village Neighbors Association | Schectman Tree Care| Sustainable 19125 | University City Green |University City District |