The fresh smell of pine during the holiday season is tough to turn down. So if you are among the many residents in Hampton Roads who will be enjoying a real-deal Christmas tree this year, make sure you dispose of it properly when you are finished with it. Many cities and counties in Hampton Roads offer free Christmas tree recycling after the holidays. Christmas trees are great for making mulch which is then used to improve community parks and green spaces come springtime. Some localities are even able to sell this mulch, made from locally recycled yard waste, to the public.

Recycling your Christmas tree is really a win-win situation. And Christmas trees aren’t the only recyclable byproduct of the holidays! Review the holiday recycling guide to make sure all your holiday waste ends up in the proper container. Come on Hampton Roads, get your 2015 off to a great, green start!

*All Christmas trees turned in for recycling must be free of any ornaments, tinsel and tree stands. As of this date, the following cities and counties have announced their Christmas tree recycling schedules.

Chesapeake

When: Dec. 26–Jan. 8

Where: Trees will be picked up on the regular trash collection day. Trees placed at the curb between January 2 and 8 will be recycled.

What to know: Remove all ornaments, tinsel and the stand. Place it separately from bulk waste and regular trash so it can be easily collected. Please do not put in a bag or put netting around it.

Gloucester

When: Ongoing

Where: Residents may bring their Christmas trees to any Gloucester County Convenience Center during regular hours. See the list below for locations. Trees should be placed in the brush container and trees will be mulched along with other brush.

    Middle Peninsula Landfill and Recycling Center – 3714 Waste Management Way (Entrance on Route 17). The Convenience Center at the Landfill operates on the same schedule as the other County Convenience Centers: Monday – Friday 8 AM to 7 PM and Saturday 7 AM to 7 PM.
    Belroi – 5122 Hickory Ford Road
    Dutton – 10430 Burke’s Pond Road
    Court House – 6550 Beehive Drive
    Hayes – 7599 Guinea Road

What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights.

Hampton

When: Ongoing

Where: Trees will be picked up at curbside on regular trash collection day. Residents can also bring naturally grown trees to be recycled at the Yard Waste Transfer Site, 100 N. Park Lane (off Big Bethel Road at entrance to Bethel Landfill) from 8 AM to 3 PM. Monday – Saturday (closed city holidays).

What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Place natural trees separate from bulk waste and regular trash. Do not put in a bag or put netting around it. Artificial trees can be disposed of at curbside as part of the bulk waste. Artificial trees should not be placed with leaves, grass or tree branches.

Isle of Wight

When: Ongoing

Where: Natural Christmas trees can be recycled at any of Isle of Wight’s eight convenience centers.

What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights.

James City County

When: Dec. 26–Jan. 31

Where: James City County’s three convenience centers (listed below).

    Jolly Pond Road – 1204 Jolly Pond Road – Open every day 7 AM to 5 PM.

    Tewning Road – 117 Tewning Road – Sunday – Closed, Monday 8 AM – 12 PM, Tuesday – Saturday 8 AM – 4 PM.
    Toano – 185 Industrial Boulevard (Hankins Industrial Park) – Open every day 8 AM – 4 PM.

What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights.

Newport News

When: Ongoing

Where: Natural trees are recyclable as regular brush, and may be placed on the curb as brush collection.

What to know: Please remove the root ball and any non-natural decorations including tinsel and lights. Place tree in a brush pile separate from any bulk being set out. Christmas trees (live or artificial) may also be brought to the Recovery Operations Center located at 550 Atkinson Way.

Norfolk

When: Ongoing

Where: Natural trees are collected for composting on regular trash day as part of Norfolk’s yard waste collection service. In addition, residents can bring natural trees, holiday lights and artificial trees to the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center – 1176 Pineridge Road, Monday through Saturday, 10 AM – 2 PM. Artificial trees may also be scheduled for bulk waste collection by calling the Norfolk Cares IMPACT Center at (757) 441-5813, or by completing a request online at www.norfolk.gov/BulkWasteForm. For more information, contact Norfolk’s Department of Public Works Division of Waste Management at 757-441-5813 or email pworks@norfolk.gov.

What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights.

Poquoson

When: Dec. 26–Jan. 20

Where: Residents can drop off natural trees to be recycled at the Municipal Pool Parking Lot (16 Municipal Drive, Poquoson)

What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Christmas trees and yard waste are accepted year-round at the VPPSA Compost Facility (located at 145 Goodwin Neck Road, York County), Monday – Saturday, 8 AM – 4 PM.

Portsmouth

When: Ongoing

Where: Curbside; residents may place their tree at the curb for pickup on their normal trash collection day.

What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel, garland and lights.

Smithfield

When: Through Jan. 15

Where: Curbside

What to know: You must contact the Town Receptionist at 365-4200 and provide your address if you have a Christmas tree to be picked up. Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel, garland and lights.

Suffolk

When: Dec. 27-Jan. 9

Where: Curbside

What to know: Tree are not recycled, but residents can put them out for disposal for two weeks after Christmas with their regular trash and the collection will not be deducted from their (12) annual free bulk collections.

Surry County

When: Jan. 1-Jan. 31

Where: Surry County Collection Centers (listed below)

    Goodson Path Solid Waste Station – 409 Goodson Path, Dendron
    Pineview Solid Waste Station – 101 Pineview Road, Waverly
    Mantura Road Solid Waste Station – 60 Mantura Road, Surry

What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel and lights. Please ask attendants for assistance to ensure that your tree is placed in the designated container.

Virginia Beach

When: Normal trash collection day

Where: Curbside or the Virginia Beach Landfill and Resource Recovery Center at 1989 Jake Sears Road with proof of residency.

What to know: Christmas trees will be handled as normal yard debris and need to be free of any decorations or tinsel. Trees collected curbside will be processed into compost. Trees dropped off at the Virginia Beach Landfill and Resource Recovery Center will be ground into mulch.

Williamsburg

When: Jan. 5 and Jan. 12

Where: Curbside

What to know: The City Crews will be collecting Christmas trees on Monday, January 5 and Monday, January 12. Trees must be placed at the curb before 7 AM and should be free of the stand, ornaments and lights. Please place separately from bulk waste and regular trash.

York County

When: Jan. 5-Jan. 9

Where: Curbside – tree must be at curb by 7 AM on January 5 for collection that week

What to know: Tree should be free of the stand, ornaments, tinsel, lights and should be no bigger than seven feet in length. Christmas trees and yard waste are accepted year-round at the VPPSA Compost Facility (located at 145 Goodwin Neck Road, York County), Monday – Saturday, 8 AM – 4 PM.