As the festive season draws to a close, consider giving your Christmas tree a new purpose. In south Phoenix, a brisk Monday morning sees a gathering of discarded live Christmas trees at Cesar Chavez Park, all awaiting pickup for composting.
“Every year, the city of Phoenix opens a drop-off location at select parks,” explained Verdiana Cervantes, a zero waste analyst with the city. “This year, it’s at 13 parks and two [Sunbelt Rental locations] for residents to drop off their natural Christmas trees.”
Not just trees, but wreaths and poinsettias are also accepted until January 9.
There are specific guidelines to follow. Cervantes emphasized, “So no fake trees, all natural and, of course, making sure that there’s no decor still on them, there’s no frost, any, like, frosted material on it, any wires, making sure it’s completely clean.”
Ring in the New Year with Responsible Clean-Up
As you prepare for the New Year celebrations, Phoenix officials offer advice on how to responsibly clear away holiday clutter.
Items like food-grade glass, such as wine and champagne bottles, can be recycled. However, fireworks require special attention.
“A lot of people just put the fireworks straight directly in the trash after, but we want to make sure that it’s completely out. So soaking them and then throwing them away, because sometimes even though you think the firework might be out, it might not, and it could spark a fire in your trash.”
Suggestions for Minimizing Holiday Waste in Phoenix
- Reuse gift bags and wrapping paper.
- Transform paper shopping bags into gift bags or wrapping paper; magazine pages or newspaper comics can also serve as vibrant gift wraps.
- Consider using decorative reusable shopping bags as alternatives to gift bags. They are practical throughout the year and often cheaper than paper gift bags.
- Donate used holiday decorations and lights instead of discarding them.
