The Solid Waste Management Department, Parks and Recreation and PNM are making it easy to recycle Christmas trees this season.

Trees can be dropped off for free Dec. 30, 2019 through Jan. 12, 2020 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations:

  • Montessa Park Convenience Center 3512 Los Picaros SE
  • Eagle Rock Convenience Center 6301 Eagle Rock NE
  • Ladera Golf Course Coors and Ladera NW

Crews will grind trees into wood chips, which can then be used as mulch to provide a better growing environment for plants and landscapes. Residents can pick up freshly ground wood chips for use in their landscapes free of charge while supplies last.

Remove all bags, tree stands, decorations and lights from trees before dropping them off to be mulched. There is a limit of five trees per resident, and no commercial customers. No artificial trees will be accepted.

After dropping off a Christmas tree, residents may also deposit their Christmas tree lights into marked containers for recycling. Christmas tree lights should never be placed into the blue recycling carts that residents use at their homes.

Recycling Christmas trees keeps them from going to the landfill where they will rot and create methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Properly disposing of Christmas lights also keep toxins from leaking into the soil and groundwater.

For more information visit Treecycling—City of Albuquerque or contact Mila Romero at 505-761-8167.

For more information on UNM's sustainability efforts, visit Office of Sustainability.