Trees to Get Second Life As Mulch

By Melissa Vargas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

Dec. 28–As the holiday season comes to a close, residents will take down Christmas lights and stow their decorations.

And communities across greater Northeast Tarrant County will launch their tree-recycling programs. Many trees will be ground into mulch.

Before residents recycle or drop off trees, they need to remove all ornaments, nails and stands. Most places accept flocked trees, but residents should check with their cities to be sure.

Last year, Euless received more than 5,000 trees, which produced 40 cubic yards of compost. The city expects the same amount this year. On Jan. 12, city workers will show how the trees are shredded and will give away saplings. Euless parks manager Johnnie Green encourages residents to recycle their trees.

“It just keeps as much [stuff] out of the landfill as possible,” he said. “It’s a usable byproduct for flower beds and stuff. It’s a savings for the city in the long term.”

Staff writer Jessica DeLeon contributed to this report.

Give trees a proper send-off

Most cities and towns have programs in which residents can drop off trees or have them picked up. Here are pickup dates and drop-off locations:

Bedford: Drop off trees through Jan. 13 at Meadowpark Athletic Complex, 3200 Meadowpark Drive.

Colleyville: Curbside pickup through Jan. 7 on regularly scheduled Monday/Thursday trash days.

Euless: Drop off trees through Jan. 12 at Midway Park, 300 W. Midway Drive.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 12 at the park, city officials will demonstrate tree mulching, give out mulch and saplings, and serve hot dogs and drinks. Call 817-685-1650.

Flower Mound: Drop off trees through Jan. 13 at 1200 Gerault Road. Call 972-874-6333 for hours of operation. Residents who want mulch should bring containers.

Fort Worth: Drop-off locations are at 2400 Brennan Ave., 5150 Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway and 2251 Silver Creek Road. Trees shorter than 8 feet can be set on the curb with the regular trash.

Grapevine: Leave trees out for the bulky and brush pickup service Saturday.

Haltom City: Leave Christmas trees curbside for pickup by IESI. Trees can also be taken to IESI’s convenience center at 2120 Minnis Drive to be mulched and recycled as compost.

Hurst: Drop off trees from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Jan. 4 in the parking lot of Hurst Community Park, 601 Precinct Line Road. Free mulch will be given out Jan. 5-10. Residents should bring trash bags and shovels.

Keller: Drop off trees through Jan. 4 in the parking lot of the Keller Sports Park’s east softball field at Chisholm Trail and Sports Parkway. Entrance to the parking lot is from Chisholm Trail.

North Richland Hills: Drop off trees through Jan. 4 at Green Valley Community Park, 7701 Smithfield Road. Trees will also be picked up curbside for recycling Saturday and Jan. 5. The mulch from recycled trees will be available for residents to pick up Jan. 5-13 at Green Valley. Residents must bring shovels and containers.

Richland Hills: Drop off Christmas trees through Jan. 7 at Rosebud Park, 2729 Rosebud Lane.

Southlake: Drop off trees through Jan. 11 at Bicentennial Park, 400 N. White Chapel Blvd. Use the entrance on Southlake Boulevard. Wood chips from recycled trees will be available to Southlake residents starting at noon Jan. 12 at the park.

Trophy Club: Drop off Christmas trees through Jan. 13 at Harmony Park, 599 Indian Creek Drive, and at the Trophy Club pool, 500 Parkview Drive.

Watauga: Drop off your Christmas trees through Jan. 7 in the trash bin at Foster Village on the east-side parking lot at 6600 Starnes Road.

Westlake: Drop off trees through Jan. 12 at the Westlake Civic Campus, 2600 J.T. Ottinger Road. Enter at the north entrance, closest to the pond.

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