San Mateo Sun

The City of Long Beach Public Works Department announced today its annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program, known as Treecycling. The annual program provides residents with convenient drop-off locations for disposal of live holiday trees, free of charge. A total of 12 drop-off locations will be available citywide from Dec. 26, 2020 through Jan. 8, 2021. 

The Treecycling program collects holiday trees and sends them to a chipping facility where they are turned into landscaping mulch or to a biomass conversion facility for energy generation. Annually, the City collects approximately 200 tons of holiday trees, which is equal to 10,000 to 15,000 trees. Proper disposal of holiday trees through the Treecycling program prevents fire hazards and blight by reducing illegally dumped trees in alleys and public right-of-ways.

Residents can drop off their holiday trees at one of the 12 convenient locations throughout the City. Anyone dropping off a tree must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth to help protect against the spread of COVID-19.

The following drop-off locations will operate Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

• Houghton Park (Myrtle Avenue at Harding Street)
• North Police Substation (4891 N. Atlantic Ave.; at Del Amo Boulevard, enter on 46th Street)
• Veterans Park (28th Street at Pine Avenue)
• Wardlow Park (Monlaco Road at Rutgers Avenue)
• El Dorado Park (2760 N. Studebaker Rd.; South parking lot, behind Administration Building)
• Hudson Park (Hill Street at Webster Avenue)
• Long Beach Environmental Services Bureau Offices (2929 E. Willow St.)
• Stearns Park (23rd Street at Roycroft Avenue)
• Orizaba Park (Orizaba Avenue at 14th Street)
• Cesar E. Chavez Park (Golden Shore Street at 4th Street)
• Bixby Park (1st Street at Cherry Avenue)
• Fire Station 14 (5200 E. Eliot St.)

All tree decorations and stands must be removed, and trees over 12 feet tall should be cut in half. No artificial trees or trees generated from businesses are allowed at Treecycling drop-off locations.

For residents with City refuse collection service unable to drop off their holiday tree, the citywide Treecycling pick-up day will occur on Saturday, Jan. 9. City refuse customers may place their tree where recycling is normally collected by 7 a.m. 

For more information on the Treecycling program, visit longbeach.gov/lbrecycles.