Community Corner

Where to Recycle Your Christmas Tree in San Diego County

La Mesa and Spring Valley residents can have their Christmas trees picked up on trash collection days.

San Diego County agencies are ready to collect and recycle Christmas trees. Below is a list of instructions for residents throughout the region:

Lemon Grove

Service Company - EDCO

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Curbside - Yes, single-family residences may place their trees curbside during regular collection service December 26, 2012 through January 16, 2013.

Drop-off Information - December 26, 2012 through January 16, 2013. Collection bin located in the fenced dirt lot at the corner of Central and Olive Ave. , across from Civic Center Park.

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La Mesa

Service Company - EDCO

Curbside - Yes, place trees in green waste bins

Drop-off Information - December 26, 2012 through January 16, 2013

Residents of La Mesa can drop off trees at the EDCO Station, located at 8184 Commercial Street in La Mesa's industrial center. Holiday tree drop-off available: Monday - Saturday, 7:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Closed Christmas and New Year's Day). Free mulch will be available on a self-load/self-haul basis.

Spring Valley (Unincorporated)

Service Company - Waste Management, EDCO, Allied Waste

Curbside - Yes, single-family residences may place their trees curbside during regular collection service the first two weeks after Christmas.

Drop-off Information - N/A

Alpine (Unincorporated)

Service Company - Waste Management, Daily Disposal, Pacific Waste, Allied Waste

Curbside - Yes

Drop-off Information - N/A

Bonsall

Service Company – EDCO; No ornaments, tinsel, nails, or tree stands.  Flocked trees are accepted. 

Curbside - Those living in single-family residences may place their trees curbside on your regular collection day December 26, 2012 through January 11, 2013.

Drop-off Information - Christmas tree recycling is available December 26, 2012 through January 13, 2013.  Please place trees inside collection containers.

River Village - 5256 Mission Road (northwest parking lot)

Fallbrook Refuse Service - 550 W. Aviation Road

Camp Pendleton

Service Company - Waste Management

Curbside - Yes

Drop-off Information - N/A

Carlsbad

Service Company - Waste Management

Curbside - Yes

Drop-off Information - Christmas tree recycling is available December 26, 2012 through January 13, 2013.  Please remove all lights, ornaments, and stands.  No flocked trees accepted.

Calavera Park - 2997 Glasgow Drive

Poinsettia Park - 6600 Hidden Valley Road

Stagecoach Park (lower park) - 3420 Camino de los Coches

Fire Station #1 - 1275 Carlsbad Village Drive

Waste Management/Palomar Transfer Station - 5690 El Camino Real

Chula Vista

Service Company - Allied Waste

Curbside - Chula Vista single family residents with cart service can recycle holiday trees by placing them at the curb on their regular collection day or use one of their two free yard waste passes to take their tree to the Otay landfill.  Flocked trees are not recyclable and must be disposed of with regular trash. 

Apartment, condominium, or mobile home residents:  Contact your manager or HOA for information about the free pre-scheduled collection day for your complex.

Drop-off Information - Call (619) 421-9400 for more details.

Coronado

Service Company - EDCO; No ornaments, tinsel, nails, or tree stands.  Flocked trees are accepted. 

Curbside - Those living in single-family residences may place their trees curbside on your regular collection day from December 26, 2012 through January 16, 2013.  Cut the tree into 4-foot lengths and place tree segments in your designated yard waste recycling can, or bundle branches together with twine for collection (bundle should not exceed 4 ft. x 18 in.).  You can also recycle other organic decorations, such as garlands and wreaths, as well as wood (no pressure-treated or lead-based painted wood), in your designated yard waste container.

Drop-off Information - Christmas tree recycling is available December 26, 2012 through January 16, 2013.  Please place trees inside collection containers. 

Glorietta Bay Park Boat Ramp parking lot (off Strand Way)

Coronado Cays - parking lot across from the Fire Station on Grand Caribe Causeway

Crest (Unincorporated)

Service Company - Waste Management, Allied Waste

Curbside - Yes

Drop-off Information - Waste Management’s recycling and buyback center, located at 925 Oconner St. in El Cajon, just south of the intersection of Bradley Avenue and Johnson Avenue. They will accept trees M-F 7am to 7pm, Sat 7am to 12pm.

Del Mar

Service Company - Waste Management

Curbside - Yes

Drop-off Information - December 26, 2012 through January 13, 2013

City Public Works Yard - 2240 Jimmy Durante Boulevard

El Cajon City and Unincorporated

Service Company - Waste Management, Allied Waste

Curbside - Yes

Drop-off Information - Waste Management’s recycling and buyback center, located at 925 Oconner St. in El Cajon, just south of the intersection of Bradley Avenue and Johnson Avenue. They will accept trees M-F 7am to 7pm, Sat 7am to 12pm.

Encinitas

Service Company - EDCO

Curbside - Yes, single-family residences may place their trees curbside during regular collection service for two weeks following Christmas.  Please remove the stand and all trimmings, cut the tree to lengths of no more than 4 feet, and place at the curb with your yard waste.  Organic decorations, such as natural garlands and wreaths, can also be placed in the residential designated yard waste container.  Flocked trees are not recyclable and must be disposed of with regular trash.

Multi-Family complexes - contact EDCO

Drop-off Information - No public drop-off available 

Escondido

Service Company - Escondido Disposal, (760)745-3203

Curbside - Yes, single-family residents from December 26, 2012 through January 18, 2013. Set the tree out at the curb with your regular greens collection. No tinsel, ornaments, nails, or tree stands.  Must be cut to 4-foot lengths.  Flocked trees will be accepted. 

Multi-family residents should ask their complex manager for the tree collection site at their complex. Trees will be collected from these multi-family sites from December 26, 2012 through January 18, 2013 and include the same restrictions listed above for curbside tree collection.

Drop-off Information - December 26, 2012 through January 18, 2013

Kit Carson Park - 3333 Bear Valley Parkway (south entrance, first parking lot on right)

Jesmond Dene Park - 2401 North Broadway (in the parking lot next to ball fields)

Look for signs at both locations. There are no tree-length restrictions at the drop-off sites. No commercial loads.

Fairbanks Ranch (Unincorporated)

Service Company - Waste Management, Allied Waste

Curbside - Yes

Drop-off Information - N/A

Fallbrook (Unincorporated)

Service Company - Fallbrook Refuse, EDCO, Waste Management

Curbside Information - Yes

Drop-off information - Christmas tree recycling is available December 26, 2012 through January 13, 2013. Please place trees inside collection containers.

River Village - 5256 Mission Road (northwest parking lot)

Fallbrook Refuse Service - 550 W. Aviation Road

Imperial Beach

Service Company - EDCO

Curbside - Yes, single family residences may place their trees curbside during regular collection service December 26, 2012 through January 13, 2013.

Drop-off Information - December 26, 2012 through January 16, 2013

Public Works Facility - 495 Tenth Street

Boys and Girls Club - 847 Encina Avenue

Sports Recreation Center - 425 Imperial Beach Boulevard

Jamul (Unincorporated)

Service Company - Waste Management

Curbside - Yes

Drop-off Information - Waste Management’s recycling and buyback center, located at 925 Oconner St. in El Cajon, just south of the intersection of Bradley Avenue and Johnson Avenue. They will accept trees M-F 7am to 7pm, Sat 7am to 12pm.

Lakeside (Unincorporated)

Service Company - EDCO, Allied Waste, Waste Management

Curbside - Yes

Drop-off Information - Waste Management’s recycling and buyback center, located at 925 Oconner St. in El Cajon, just south of the intersection of Bradley Avenue and Johnson Avenue. They will accept trees M-F 7am to 7pm, Sat 7am to 12pm.

National City

Service Company - EDCO

Curbside - Yes, single-family residences may place their trees curbside during regular collection service the first two weeks after Christmas.

Drop-off Information - National City will be providing Christmas tree drop off. For information please check our website, www.nationalcityca.gov.  

Oceanside

Service Company - Waste Management

Curbside - Yes, customers can recycle their Christmas trees for free by placing the trees at the curb on their regular pick-up day.  Trees will be picked up for recycling during the two weeks following Christmas. Remove all decorations, including ornaments, tinsel, lights and the tree stand; if the tree is taller than six feet, please cut it in half. Flocked trees cannot be recycled, but will be collected as regular trash. 

Drop-off Information - N/A

Poway

Service Company - EDCO

Curbside - Yes, single-family residences may place their trees curbside during regular collection service December 26, 2012 through January 16, 2013.

Multi-Family complexes contact EDCO.

Drop-off Information - Contact EDCO, (858) 748-7769

Rancho Santa Fe

Service Company - Waste Management, Allied Waste, EDCO

Curbside - Yes

Drop-off Information - N/A

Ramona

Service Company - Ramona Disposal (760) 789-0516 or www.ramonadisposal.com

Curbside - Those living in single-family residences may place their tree curbside on your regular collection day.  Please remember to remove all lights and ornaments before recycling your tree.  Trees need to be cut down to sizes no longer than four feet in length.

Drop-off Information - Drop-off sites will also be available December 29, 2012 through December 30, 2012 and January 5, 2013 through January 6, 2013. Residents do not need to cut trees.  Ramona Disposal will place collection bins at the following locations:

Ramona High School & The Village Shopping Center in San Diego Country Estate

San Marcos

Service Company - EDCO

Curbside Collection - Yes, residents may place holiday trees curbside from December 27, 2012 through January 13, 2013 during regular collection days.

Multi-Family communities contact EDCO at (760) 744-2700.

Drop-Off Information - December 26, 2012 through January 13, 2013.  Place trees inside collection bins located in the parking lot of the Senior Center, located at 111 Richmar Avenue.

Santee

Service Company - Waste Management

Curbside - Yes, December 26, 2012 through January 7, 2013.

Drop-off Information - Waste Management’s recycling and buyback center, located at 925 Oconner St. in El Cajon, south of the intersection of Bradley Avenue and Johnson Avenue.   They will accept trees M-F 7am to 7pm, Sat 7am to 12pm.

Solana Beach:

Service Company - Waste Management (residential curbside)

Curbside - Yes

Drop-off Information - December 26, 2012 through January 13, 2013

City Hall Parking Lot - 635 South Highway 101

La Colonia Community Center - 715 Valley Avenue

Valley Center

Service Company - Waste Management, EDCO

Curbside - Yes

Drop-off Information - Christmas tree recycling is available December 26, 2012 through January 13, 2013. Please place trees inside collection containers.

Valley Center Elementary School (lower parking lot) - 28751 Cole Grade Road

Vista

Service Company - EDCO (760) 727-1600

Curbside - Those living in single-family residences may place their trees curbside on your regular collection day from December 26, 2012 through January 11, 2013.  Trees should not exceed 4 feet in length. Trees exceeding limit should be cut in half. Trimmings and the stand must be removed.  Organic decorations, such as natural garlands and wreaths, can also be placed in the residential designated yard waste container.

Drop-off Information - Christmas tree recycling is available December 26th, 2012 through January 13th, 2013. Please place trees inside collection containers.

Parking lot between S. Santa Fe Avenue and Mercantile Street - 523 S. Santa Fe Avenue

Parking lot on the corner of S. Melrose & Shadowridge

City of San Diego

December 26, 2012 – January 23, 2013

For Residential Curbside Pick Up:

 Manual container customers using your own bins should place trees on the curb for collection on your regular greenery recycling pickup day. Trees over four feet in length should be cut in half.

Automated container customers using the large, green 96-gallon bin provided by the city should cut their trees to fit into the automated container for pickup on collection day.

Christmas Tree Residential Recycling Drop-off Sites for San Diego residents

  • Carmel Valley: Carmel Valley Recreation Center, 3777 Townsgate Drive, lower parking lot.
  • Golden Hill: Golden Hill Recreation Center, 2600 Golf Course Drive
  • La Jolla: Kate Sessions Park, 5115 Soledad Road
  • Logan Heights: Memorial Recreation Center, 2902 Marcy Avenue
  • Miramar: Miramar Landfill and Greenery Recycling, 5180 Convoy Street, north of Highway 52
  • Oak Park: Chollas Lake, 6350 College Grove Drive, in Gloria’s Mesa parking lot.
  • Otay Mesa/Nestor: Montgomery Waller Community Park (lower west parking lot on Palm Avenue)            
  • Rancho Bernardo: Rancho Bernardo Recreation Center,18448 W. Bernardo Drive
  • Rancho Penasquitos: Canyonside Recreation Center, 12350 Black Mountain Road
  • SDSU: Parking Lot D off Alvarado Road
  • Scripps Ranch: Scripps Ranch Recreation Center, 11454 Blue Cypress Drive 
  • Tierrasanta: De Portola Middle School, 11010 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard

For more information, visit WasteFreeSD.org or call 1-877-R-1-EARTH (1-877-713-2784).


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