“Last year, we collected more than 18,000 trees from Denver residents,” says Karen Hultgren, spokeswoman for Denver Recycles. “A lot of communities will offer drop-off sites, so you have to tie the tree on top of your car and take it someplace to drop it off, but here in Denver we’re unique, because we do residential pickup.”
That’s part of the Treecycle program, whereby trees are picked up and turned into mulch (available for free during the annual mulch giveaway in the springtime). Depending on what trash service is provided, Denver residents should strip their trees of decorations and stands and set them out today (for residents with dumpster service) or on their regular trash day (for manual and barrel customers). A special truck will stop by to pick up the trees, keeping them separated from the trash. “They are a natural resource,” Hultgren points out, “and it’s a much better use than just putting them out with the trash and having them end up in landfills.”
Treecycle starts today and runs through January 17; for more information, visit denvergov.org/denverrecycles.
Jan. 6-17, 2014
