Photo: Bostonmagazine.com

Christmas tree recycling has become a Delaware post-holiday tradition statewide. Residents are able to take their trees to a yard waste site and give recycling a boost.

Recycled Christmas trees are accepted free of charge from Delaware residents at many local facilities, beginning Saturday, Dec. 26 until Saturday, Jan. 30. Those wanting to recycle their trees should contact the facility before hand for hours of operation.

Local yard waste sites are asking anyone who will be recycling to remove all hooks, wire, tinsel and ornaments, as well as wood and metal tree stands from the trees before dropping them off.

Bill Miller, program manager in DNREC’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Section, says this event has become tradition.

“Many Delawareans have been recycling their Christmas trees for many years, and we encourage everyone to establish or continue this eco-friendly tradition,” Miller said. “Recycling these trees that are a product of nature is a wonderful way of giving back to the environment.”

If you live in Kent County and are a customer living in trash districts that have the yard waste collection service, Christmas trees will be collected on regular trash days from Jan. 11-15 and 18-22.

Participating locations include:

New Castle County

Polly Drummond Hill Road Community Yard Waste Demonstration Site
Located in the Pike Creek area on Polly Drummond Hill Road, about 1/2 mile north of Kirkwood Highway. Hours: ONLY Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. through Jan. 10. Site will close Jan. 11, 2016 through May 7, 2016 (More information: www.dnrec.recycling.gov/yardwaste)

South Chapel Yard Waste Site (operated by Holland Mulch)
1034 S. Chapel Street, Newark, DE 19702; phone 302-737-1000
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m.-noon*

Copeland’s Mulch Depot (free for trees purchased at Copeland’s; otherwise $2)
2 Honeysuckle Drive, Stanton, DE 19804; phone 302-633-9536
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.*
Closed until Jan. 4.

Holland Mulch
135 Hay Road, Edge Moor, DE 19809; phone 302-765-3100
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m.-noon*

Sussex County

Blessings Greenhouses
9372 Draper Road, Milford, DE 19963; phone 302-393-3273
Hours: Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-5 p.m.*

Blue Hen Organics
33529 Fox Run Road, Frankford, DE 19945; phone 302-732-3211
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-4 p.m.*

Grizzly’s Landscape Supply Service
18412 The Narrow Road, Lewes, DE 19958; phone 302-644-0654
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.*

Kaye Construction
22288 Coverdale Road, Seaford, DE 19973; phone 302-629-7483
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.*, closed until Jan. 4

Millville Organic Center
Whites Neck Road (0.5 miles north of Route 26) Millville, DE 19967; phone 302-423-2601
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.*

Selbyville Pet and Garden Center (free for active customers within the last 6 months)
38205 DuPont Boulevard, Selbyville, DE 19975; phone 302-436-8286)
Hours: Thursdays and Fridays 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m.***

Stockley Materials
25136 DuPont Boulevard, Georgetown, DE 19947; phone 302-856-7601
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-5 p.m.*

For more information, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/yardwaste.