Christmas tree recycling programs offered in Phoenix, Mesa

PHOENIX (FOX 10) -- While some people leave their holiday decorations up until after the new year, others can't wait to take them down.

"It's tradition to get a real tree and get it down pretty much as soon as Christmas is over," said Tom Drath.

Instead of cutting up and tossing the now unwanted tree, he and a friend made the short drive to the neighborhood park to make sure it gets re-used.

"We like the idea someone is taking the time to help people recycle things.. we think it's a wonderful thing and encourage others to participate," he said.

"We want residents to have a close location to drop off their tree and we'll go ahead and compost it and turn it into something. We will put back into our public parks as an amendment to the soil," said zero waist coordinator Lucas Mariarcher.

There are more than a dozen tree drop-off sites around Phoenix and five sites in Mesa. The only requirements are to take off all decorations and lights, remove any metal or nails and do not put it in a bag. You can also drop off real wreaths, too.

If you live in Phoenix, there's a brand new program where you can drop off unwanted Christmas lights to any transfer station to be recycled. You cannot recycle Christmas lights in your blue bins. The only drop off sites are transfer stations.

"They'll strip the bulbs off, strip the plastic off the wiring and separate those separately just like you would recycle a bottle or a can," explained Mariarcher.

Drop-off locations:

Phoenix:

Deer Valley Park - 19th Ave. and Utopia Rd.
Paradise Valley Park - 40th St. south of Union Hills Dr.
Sereno Park - 56th St. and Sweetwater Ave.
Cactus Park - 38th Ave. and Cactus Rd.
Mountain View Park - Seventh Ave. south of Peoria Ave.
North Gateway Transfer Station - 30205 N. Black Canyon Hwy. (Dixileta exit)
Marivue Park - 59th Ave. and Osborn Rd.
Washington Park - 23rd Ave. and Maryland Ave.
Madison Park - 16th St. and Glenrosa Ave.
Los Olivos Park - 28th St. and Devonshire Ave.
Desert West Park - 67th Ave. and Encanto Blvd.
El Reposo Park - Seventh St. and Alta Vista Rd.
Mountain Vista Park - 50th St. just north of Ray Rd.
Desert Foothills Park - Desert Foothills and Chandler Blvd.
Cesar Chavez Park - 35th Ave. and Baseline Rd.
27th Avenue Transfer Station - 3060 S. 27th Ave.
4050 E. Indian School Rd. (A to Z Equipment Rentals; one tree per household)
15634 N. 32nd St. (A to Z Equipment Rentals; one tree per household)
1703 W. Bethany Home Rd. (Jan. 5 only; I Recycle Phoenix Festival)

Mesa:

Fitch Park, 651 N. Center St. (enter off of 8th St.)
East Mesa Service Center, 6935 E. Decatur St.
Superstition Springs Police/Fire Substation, 2430 S. Ellsworth Road
Mountain View Park, 845 N. Lindsay Rd. (enter off of Adobe St.)
Dobson Ranch Park, 2363 S. Dobson Rd.

City of Phoenix Christmas tree recycling locations:
phoenix.gov/publicworks/recycling/christmas-tree-recycling

City of Mesa Christmas tree recycling locations:
mesaaz.gov/residents/solid-waste-trash-recycling/christmas-tree-recycling