How to dispose of Christmas trees in the Des Moines metro, Ames

Nina Baker, Des Moines Register
·1 min read

As the holidays come to a close, the Metro Waste Authority will offer a special winter yard waste collection for the Des Moines metro to compost live Christmas trees.

Between now and Jan. 6, Metro Waste Authority will collect Christmas trees along with regular yard waste such as leaves and yard clippings on the curb on residents' normal collection day. Participating communities include Altoona, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Grimes, Johnston, Mitchellville, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Runnells, Urbandale, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights.

Des Moines offers yard waste pickup year-round; there is no deadline for disposing of Christmas trees.

Live trees need a $1.25 green Compost It! sticker to be collected. Fake trees require a $5 pink sticker. All ornaments, lights and wires must be removed. Wreaths and garlands are not accepted.

Compost It! stickers can be found at many grocery stores in the Des Moines metro area.

Trees and yard waste must be placed on the curb by 7 a.m.

Ames to offer Christmas tree recycling

The city of Ames will provide free Christmas tree disposal after Dec. 25 at 700 E. 13th St. Disposal will be available during daylight hours until the end of January.

Christmas trees will be recycled into chips to be used in city parks. The tree stand, ornaments, tinsel and wires must be removed.

Nina Baker is a news reporter at the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at NBaker@gannett.com or on Twitter @Nina_M_Baker.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How to throw away live Christmas trees in the Des Moines metro, Ames