PHILADELPHIA, PA — As the holiday season winds down, Philadelphia sanitation officials are urging residents to keep recycling front and center, with collection schedule changes and the city’s annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program set to begin in early January.
The City of Philadelphia will be closed on Thursday, January 1, for the New Year’s holiday. As a result, there will be no trash or recycling collections that day. Residents whose normal collection days fall on Thursday or Friday are instructed to set materials out one day later than usual. Households that receive twice-weekly collections will only receive one pickup during the holiday week, with trash and recycling collected on the first scheduled day only.
Sanitation Commissioner Crystal Jacobs Shipman said the post-holiday period is one of the busiest times of year for the city’s waste system and encouraged residents to recycle properly to keep costs down and materials out of landfills.
The city’s residential Christmas Tree Recycling Program will run from Monday, January 5, through Saturday, January 17. Now in its 37th year, the program provides an environmentally friendly alternative to discarding live trees as trash.
Residents may drop off undecorated, untied live trees at any of the city’s six Sanitation Convenience Centers, open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The locations are:
- 3033 South 63rd Street
- 2601 West Glenwood Avenue
- Domino Lane and Umbria Street
- 3901 North Delaware Avenue
- State Road and Ashburner Street
- 5100 Grays Avenue
In addition, trees will be accepted at 15 designated drop-off locations on Saturdays, January 10 and January 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
City officials stressed that trees must be completely free of decorations and ties to be eligible for recycling. Trees with ornaments, lights, tinsel, or other materials attached cannot be processed.
The recycling program is available only to residents who receive city-collected trash and recycling services. Vendors are responsible for arranging private disposal of discarded trees. Households unable to participate may place trees out as trash on their regular collection day.
Officials also encouraged residents to consider reusing their trees. Small pine limbs and needles can serve as winter mulch for sensitive plants, and trees can be composted. Burning trees indoors is discouraged, as sap can create odors and lead to creosote buildup in chimneys, increasing fire risk.
With holiday celebrations typically generating extra waste, residents are reminded to recycle common items such as non-metallic wrapping paper, glass bottles, aluminum cans, paper bags, catalogs, and calendars. Reusing items like gift bags, ribbons, bows, newspapers, and plastic bags can further reduce waste, while minimizing excess packaging helps keep material out of landfills year-round.
More information on proper holiday recycling is available through the city’s recycling guide.
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