It’s not yet Christmas, but the city of Pittsburgh on Monday reminded residents that you can be environmentally responsible when recycling your holiday tree, if you follow a few easy steps.
First, remove the ornaments and lights, and any netting, tinsel or other adornment. The city has even posted a YouTube video showing you how, and why, to recycle your tree.
Second, rather than put it at the curb for deposit in a landfill, take the tree to one of the city’s 12 drop-off locations, listed below, from Dec. 26 through Jan. 26. [Note: This process doesn’t apply to artificial trees.]
Third, the city will chop them into mulch to be made available to the public, at no charge, in spring. Last year, according to Mayor Bill Peduto’s office, the city collected more than 21 tons of trees.
Nine of the drop-off sites are accessible for the entire month, 24 hours a day. They are:
- Friendship (ZIP code 15232), Baum Grove Parklet, 400 Roup Ave. (off Fairmont Avenue)
- Deutschtown (15212), Sue Murray Swimming Pool Parking Lot, Cedar and Stockton avenues
- Brookline (15226), Brookline Recreation Center, 1400 Oakridge Street
- Brighton Heights (15212), Jack Stack Parking Lot, 600 Brighton Woods Road
- Squirrel Hill South (15217), Prospect Drive roundabout in Schenley Park
- Highland Park (15206), Highland Park volleyball court parking lot, 151 Lake Drive
- Oakwood (15205), Oakwood Park ball field, Noblestown Road
- Southside (15203), Southside Riverfront Park lower parking lot
- Middle Hill (15213), Kennard Park at Kirkpatrick and Reed streets
Also ready to receive trees — but only from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday — are the city’s three year-round yard debris receiving sites.
- Hazelwood (15207), 3rd Division Public Works Department facility, Melanchton Avenue, off 5200 block of Second Avenue
- Homewood West (15208), 2nd Division Public Works Department facility, North Dallas Avenue at Hamilton Avenue
- Elliott (15220), 5th Division Public Works Department facility, 1330 Hassler Street off Herschel & Steuben streets
Need a map? Go go https://pittsburghpa.gov/dpw/xmas-tree-recycling. Or call 311 for more information.