Don’t trash your tree! Recycle holiday waste during free Huntsville event

Published on December 23, 2021

The holiday season is fun while it lasts, but it leaves additional household waste. There’s often a mountain of cardboard boxes, and then there’s the issue of what to do with the live Christmas tree.

Huntsville residents who need to dispose of items in a safe, environmentally friendly way can drop them off at Operation Christmas Clean Up, Saturday, Jan. 8, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at John Hunt Park, 2315 Airport Road.

The annual event will be hosted by the Solid Waste Disposal Authority (SWDA) and Recycling Alliance of North Alabama (RANA), in conjunction with the City of Huntsville’s Operation Green Team, City of Madison and Madison County.

Drivers can remain in their cars as volunteers unload items. The only items that will be accepted are live Christmas trees, cardboard, electronics and batteries.

Brian Walker, director of Landscape Management for the City of Huntsville, said the free recycling event is important because it allows residents to get rid of holiday clutter without filling up local landfills. He said any opportunity to reduce landfill waste is one residents should embrace.

“The Christmas trees will be turned into mulch, which will be used to put around other trees throughout our parks,” Walker said. “Electronics have a lot of pollutants that can leach into the ground. Any time we can recycle those, it’s better than putting them in the landfill.”

In case of inclement weather, Operation Christmas Clean Up will be held Jan. 15 at the same times.

Visit the Operation Green Team Facebook event page for more information.