The holiday season is coming to an end, here's where to recycle your live Christmas tree
Whether Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir or Scotch Pine, the festive scent and decor of live Christmas trees brings joy to homes throughout the holiday season.
Once your tree starts dropping needles and losing its vibrant hue, however, it's time to bid farewell and discard of your tree responsibly.
As trees dry out, they are more likely to become fire hazards. Approximately 30 percent of Christmas tree fires throughout the country occurred in January, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
The good news is you can give your tree a second life!
Trees are biodegradable, meaning they can easily be reused or recycled for mulching and other purposes, according to The National Christmas Tree Association.
As the Christmas season winds down, remove the ornaments, lights, tinsel, and stand from your live Christmas tree and recycle it at one of the following locations.
New Hanover County
Between Dec. 26 and Jan. 31, New Hanover County residents can recycle their trees at three drop-off locations throughout the county.
Two local Home Depot locations are available for tree drop-off during daylight hours: 5511 Carolina Beach Road and 210 Eastwood Road.
The New Hanover County Landfill, located at 5210 US 421 N., is also accepting live Christmas tree drop offs. The landfill is open from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 6:30 a.m. until noon on Saturdays. The location will be closed for New Year's Day and on Jan. 2.
Once decorations have been removed, wreaths may also be dropped off at these three locations.
Demand is expected to be high, so residents are asked to stack their trees and wreaths as neatly as possible. Artificial trees are not accepted at these locations.
Brunswick County
The Brunswick County Landfill, located at 172 Landfill Road NE, Bolivia, will accept live trees from residents at no charge until Jan. 30.
The landfill is open from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
Christmas trees can also be taken to one of four convenience sites located throughout the county for a fee of $5 per tree:
Leland Convenience Center, 9921 Chappell Loop Road SE, Leland.
Sunset Beach Convenience Center, 746 Seaside Road SW, Sunset Beach.
Supply Convenience Center, 1709 Oxpen Road SW, Supply.
Southport Convenience Center, 8392 River Road SE, Southport.
All four locations are open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Ornaments, lights, and other decorations must be removed from the tree before drop-off.
Pender County
Pender County residents can dispose of their live trees at two convenience centers located within the county for three weeks following Christmas.
The Rocky Point Convenience Center, located at 16232 NC 210, Rocky Point, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
The Hampstead Convenience Center, located at 250 Transfer Station Road, Hampstead, is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 until 7 p.m.
All decorations should be removed from trees prior to recycling.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Where can you recycle your live Christmas tree in Wilmington, NC
