SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — The presents have been opened, the feast devoured. Now it’s time to dismantle the Christmas decorations.
After removing the ornaments, lights, tinsel and all other adornments on the o’tannenbaum, live trees can be recycled in multiple places in the tri-county region. Below is a list to consider:
New Hanover County
For folks without City of Wilmington trash and recycling services, the New Hanover County Recycling and Solid Waste has partnered with Home Depot to provide tree drop-off locations. Sites open Dec. 26 through Jan. 31 and fenced-in areas in The Home Depot parking lots will be marked with signage to drop-off locations.
- The Home Depot, 5511 Carolina Beach Road
- The Home Depot, 210 Eastwood Road
- New Hanover County Landfill, 5210 US Highway 421 North
“We’re grateful for this longstanding partnership with The Home Depot which makes sure that real Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands are recycled into mulch and composted for use in New Hanover County parks, gardens and grounds,”Recycling and Solid Waste Director Joe Suleyman said in a press release. “This program helps reduce waste in our landfill and keeps our environment clean.”
Artificial trees or decorations will not be accepted.
Residents should stack recyclable materials neatly due to limited space.
Along with trees and wreaths, other holiday-related items like gift wrap, paper or cardboard boxes, holiday cards, old gadgets and electronics can be recycled at the county’s recycling processing facility, drop-off sites or via the Mobile Hazwagon.
At this time, string lights, tinsel, foam packaging, bubble wrap, and ribbons or bows cannot be recycled by New Hanover County and should either be reused or placed in the trash.
Residents in the Wilmington city limits can learn more about recycling services and accepted items here.
Brunswick County
Until Jam. 20, the Brunswick County landfill (172 Landfill Road NE) will open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and until 3 p.m. on Saturday.
There are also four convenience centers open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drop-off is $5 a tree at the following addresses:
- Leland Convenience Center, 9921 Chappell Loop Road SE
- Sunset Beach Convenience Center, 746 Seaside Road SW
- Supply Convenience Center, 1709 Oxpen Road SW
- Southport Convenience Center, 8392 River Road SE
Pender County
Two convenience centers in Pender County will be open to drop off live trees. They’re open for three weeks after Christmas at the following locations:
- Rocky Point, 16232 NC 210 — Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
- Hampstead, 250 Transfer Station Road, Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Dune Restoration
The Surfrider Foundation is hosting a tree dune restoration event at Carolina Beach on Jan. 27. It’s welcoming everyone to help slow sand erosion by reusing Christmas trees to create natural frontal edges of existing dune structures.
Volunteers are asked to bring shovels and gloves, but not their trees. Trees come from Carolina Beach’s Christmas tree removal program.
Surfrider started the program almost a decade ago. The trees, biodegradable, act as natural barriers and capture blowing sand to help rebuild natural habitats.
N.C. Division of Coastal Management suggests natural Christmas trees, free from decorations, act as a substitute for traditional sand fencing but must placed in a manner that meets North Carolina rules for sand fencing; Surfrider follows the regulations.
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