Riverside County is urging its residents to recycle their natural Christmas trees, rather than leaving them unrecycled at landfills. The county has put in place special services to ensure that the trees are recycled in a manner that enriches the soil.
According to a Riverside County press release, trees that are dropped off at the Badlands and Lamb Canyon landfills will be chipped and mixed with food waste and other organic materials to produce compost or mulch. Before depositing their trees, residents must remove all decorations, lights, tinsel, and stands.
The same press release also stated that for two weeks after Christmas, natural trees can be left at the curb on a resident’s regular pickup day. They should be placed beside or inside the green-waste container. Trees four feet high or taller should be cut in half. These curbside trees will then be transported to local green-waste processors where they will be converted into compost or mulch.
The press release further noted that residents without curbside pick up can bring their prepared natural trees to several designated locations free of charge. These include A Lua Wood Recycling in Lake Elsinore, B P John Recycling in Romoland, Burrtec/Coachella Transfer Station in Coachella (Burrtec customers only), Burrtec/Edom Hill Transfer Station in Cathedral City (Burrtec customers only), Burrtec/Robert A. Nelson Transfer Station in Riverside (Burrtec customers only), CR & R in Perris (CR & R customers only), El Sobrante Landfill in Corona, Riverside County Badlands Landfill in Moreno Valley, Riverside County Blythe Landfill in Blythe, Riverside County Lamb Canyon Landfill in Beaumont and Riverside County Oasis Landfill in Oasis.