As you enjoy the last few days with your Christmas tree, take note of how to get rid of your natural trees once you take them down.
You can always place the tree outside to become a backyard habitat for birds and creatures, cut branches to feed a fire pit, or use the boughs to protect and cover your flower beds.
Of course, you can also get rid of your tree. askHRgreen.org has compiled a list of Hampton Roads cities and their plans for natural Christmas tree recycling/pick-up schedules.
Chesapeake
When: Dec. 27–Jan. 13
Where: Trees will be picked up on the regular trash collection day. Trees placed at the curb between January 3 and 13 will be recycled.
What to know: Remove all ornaments, tinsel and the stand. Place it separately from bulk waste and regular trash so it can be easily collected. Please do not put in a bag or put netting around it.
Gloucester
When: Ongoing
Where: Residents may place Christmas trees in the brush container at any Gloucester County Convenience Center during regular hours. See the list below for locations.
- Middle Peninsula Landfill and Recycling Center – 3714 Waste Management Way (Entrance on Route 17). The Convenience Center at the Landfill operates on the same schedule as the other County Convenience Centers: Monday – Friday 8 AM to 7 PM and Saturday 7 AM to 7 PM.
- Belroi – 5122 Hickory Ford Road
- Dutton – 10430 Burke’s Pond Road
- Court House – 6550 Beehive Drive
- Hayes – 7599 Guinea Road
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Trees will be mulched along with other yard debris. Mulch is provided free of charge to county residents from the main landfill location. However, residents are strongly encouraged to call ahead to ensure mulch is available for pickup.
Hampton
When: Ongoing
Where: Trees will be picked up at curbside on regular trash collection day. Residents can also bring naturally grown trees to be recycled at the Yard Waste Transfer Site, 100 N. Park Lane (off Big Bethel Road at entrance to Bethel Landfill) from 8 AM to 3 PM. Monday – Saturday (closed city holidays).
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Place natural trees separate from bulk waste and regular trash. Do not put in a bag or put netting around it. Artificial trees should not be placed with leaves, grass or tree branches. Trees will be mulched or composted at the VPPSA Composting Facility. Mulch and compost are available for purchase by the public at the composting facility.
Isle of Wight
When: Ongoing
Where: Natural Christmas trees can be recycled at any of Isle of Wight’s Refuse & Recycling Centers.
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Trees will be composted.
Newport News
When: Ongoing
Where: Natural trees are recyclable as regular brush, and may be placed on the curb as brush collection.
What to know: Please remove the root ball and any non-natural decorations including tinsel and lights. Place tree in a brush pile separate from any bulk being set out. Christmas trees (live or artificial) may also be brought to the Recovery Operations Centerlocated at 550 Atkinson Way. Trees will be composted or mulched.
Norfolk
When: Ongoing
Where: Natural trees are collected for composting on regular trash day as part of Norfolk’s yard waste collection service. In addition, residents can bring natural trees, holiday lights and artificial trees to the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center – 1176 Pineridge Road, Monday through Saturday, 10 AM – 2 PM. Artificial trees may also be scheduled for bulk waste collection by calling the Norfolk Cares IMPACT Center at (757) 664-6510, or by completing a request online at www.norfolk.gov/BulkWasteForm
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights.
Poquoson
When: Dec. 25–Jan. 20
Where: Residents can drop off natural trees to be composted at the Municipal Pool Parking Lot (16 Municipal Drive, Poquoson)
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Trees will be mulched or composted at the VPPSA Composting Facility. Christmas trees and yard waste are accepted year-round at the VPPSA Compost Facility (located at 145 Goodwin Neck Road, York County), Monday – Saturday, 8 AM – 4 PM. Mulch and compost are available for purchase by the public at the composting facility.
Smithfield
When: Through Jan. 12
Where: Curbside
What to know: You must contact Kathy Bew-Jones at 365-4200 or kjones@smithfieldva.gov and provide your address if you have a Christmas tree to be picked up. Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel, garland and lights. Trees will be composted.
Surry County
When: Jan. 1-Jan. 31
Where: Surry County Collection Centers (listed below)
- Goodson Path Solid Waste Station – 409 Goodson Path, Dendron
- Pineview Solid Waste Station – 101 Pineview Road, Waverly
- Mantura Road Solid Waste Station – 60 Mantura Road, Surry
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Please ask attendants for assistance to ensure that your tree is placed in the designated container.
Virginia Beach
When: Normal trash collection day
Where: Curbside or the Virginia Beach Landfill and Resource Recovery Center at 1989 Jake Sears Road with proof of residency.
What to know: Christmas trees will be handled as normal yard debris and need to be free of any decorations or tinsel. All trees and yard debris will be mulched.
Williamsburg
When: Jan. 3 and Jan. 9
Where: Curbside
What to know: The City Crews will be collecting Christmas trees on Tuesday, January 3 and Monday, January 9. Trees must be placed at the curb before 7 AM and should be free of the stand, ornaments and lights. Please place separately from bulk waste and regular trash. Trees will be mulched.
York County
When: Jan. 2-Jan. 6
Where: Curbside – tree must be at curb by 7 AM on January 4 for collection that week
What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel, lights and should be no bigger than six feet in length. For all York County residents, including non-subscribers, Christmas trees are accepted throughout January at the VPPSA Compost Facility (located at 145 Goodwin Neck Road, York County), Monday – Saturday, 8 AM – 4 PM. York County residents who subscribe to the trash program may bring yard waste to the VPPSA Compost Facility year-round.
