When the holidays are over and it’s time to take down your natural holiday trees, wreaths and garlands, give them a second life by recycling them, according to the Mid America Regional Council.
Like yard waste materials, holiday trees and greenery are banned from landfills in Missouri and are discouraged from being deposited into Kansas landfills.
Area communities offer residents a number of ways to recycle them — not only keeping them out of landfills, but also creating a useful product that can be used for a variety of purposes, including trail surfaces, erosion control, landscaping and fish habitat in local lakes.
“All residents in the Kansas City metro area have many options for recycling their natural holiday trees and greenery,” said Matt Riggs, outreach coordinator for the MARC Solid Waste Management District. “Residents should contact their trash hauler first to see if they provide curbside pickup, since that is most convenient. If not, there are plenty of other pickup and drop-off options available.”
For more ways to reduce, reuse and recycle for the holidays, visit RecycleSpot.org or call 816-474-8326.
The Kansas City, Kansas, dropoff locations are clearly marked with a sign. The Wyandotte County tree recycling locations listed include:
• Kansas City, Kansas — Alvey Park, 4834 Metropolitan Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, 913-573-8327, north side of the south parking lot
• Kansas City, Kansas — City Park, 2601 Park Drive, Kansas City, Kansas, 913-573-8327, in the park, around the corner on the grass
• Kansas City, Kansas — Stony Point Park, 531 N. 86th St., Kansas City, Kansas, 913-573-8327, northeast corner of parking lot
• Kansas City, Kansas, and Bonner Springs — Wyandotte County Park, 600 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs, Kansas, 913-573-8327, ball field parking
• Kansas City, Kansas — Missouri Organic, 1260 Alma St., Kansas City, Kansas, 816-483-0908, fees apply
• Bonner Springs — North Park, 1200 S. 134th St., Bonner Springs, Kansas, 913-422-7010
Visit RecycleSpot.org, call 816-474-8326 or check the list at https://www.marc.org/News-Releases/12_2019/Treecycle%E2%80%9D-your-natural-holiday-tree-and-greenery.html for other locations throughout the metro area that will recycle trees and greenery. Most services are free.