Community Corner

Where to Toss Your Tannenbaum in Santa Monica

Ready to get rid of your Christmas tree? Drop it off at any of four designated parks and it will be recycled into mulch and used across the city.

Updated at 12:40 a.m. Dec. 27 with changes to drop-off locations.

Retired Christmas trees may be dropped off at select city parks in January.

They will be recycled into mulch and used in parks and landscapes across Santa Monica.

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They may be dropped off through the end of the month at:

  • Clover Park at 25th Street and Ocean Boulevard
  • Douglas Park at Chelsea Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard
  • Christine Emerson Reed Park at Lincoln Boulevard and California Avenue
  • Hotchkiss Park at Fourth Street and Strand

The Southern California Disposal Transfer Station, at 1908 Frank St. will accept tree drop-offs.

Find out what's happening in Santa Monicawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Do not, however, stuff the trees in trash bins or ditch them on curbs or in alleys, public works officials warned. It's illegal and a fire hazard, they said.

"If the trees are dumped out in the ally, we have to spend a special crew out… we can’t guarantee that they make it into the 'green' pile," said Mayesha Jones of the city's Resource Recovery and Recycling Division. "We would like to keep as much material out of the landfill as possible."

In 2010, the city recycled 40 tons of Christmas trees. Once grounded down into mulch, a majority of the nutrient-rich timber was spread across open space at the Santa Monica Airport.

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