After the presents are unwrapped, the holiday lights get packed away, and ornaments get pulled off the tree, Waste Management will be collecting the trees for recycling from residents in the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County and in the cities of Guadalupe and Solvang.
Customers can place their discarded trees next to their trash containers or inside their green waste container by 6 a.m. on their collection day from Jan. 5 through 9.
When placing trees on the curb for collection, Waste Management customers should follow these guidelines: remove all decorations, including tinsel, lights, ornaments, and tree stands. Cut down trees that are more than 6 1/2 feet tall. Trees with stands and flocked trees will not be accepted.
Santa Barbara County, Solvang, and Guadalupe residents without trash service or those who would like to dispose of their tree earlier than the collection date can take it to the Waste Management center at 1850 W. Betteravia Road in Santa Maria, open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or 97 Commerce Drive in Buellton, open Wednesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The center in Buellton is closed from 11 to 11:30 a.m. for lunch.
Of course, there are other ways to recycle your tree this year. It could be used as a bird feeder and sanctuary in the backyard, or it could be chipped up and used as mulch or ground cover.
And something to think about for next year: You could always buy a rooted tree and plant it in your yard after Christmas!
For more information, call Waste Management at 922-2121.
Managing Editor Camillia Lanham compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via email at clanham@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 25, 2014 – Jan 1, 2015.