Boulder County Recycling options:
Ok folks, the holidays are officially over! You are likely sporting a few new things and may need to find good homes for old stuff at this point. Then there is all that wrapping paper, holiday lights that have seen their last season, and of course the tree.
It’s almost time to take down the Christmas tree. I had to check on this myself.. Not really knowing what the traditionally appropriate timeline for this was. It turns out that according to Christian tradition (and Wikipedia) the tree and decorations come down on or before the Twelfth Night. If the first night is the day after Christmas (Dec 26th) then the Twelfth Night, when Jesus was apparently presented at Temple, is going to be January 6th.
So… you have a few days left to enjoy the spirit of the holidays and if you are sporting a real evergreen, to watch those pine-needles get crispier! But then what? Recycle that monstrosity!
Boulder County Recycling for Xmas Trees
All tinsel, lights and decorations must be removed from the tree in order to recycle it and those with artificial snow on them, cannot be recycled at all.
Boulder: 
Western Disposal Yard Waste Drop Off is free for City of Boulder Residents at 5880 Butte Mill Rd, Boulder. If you have curbside waste collection, put the tree in the compost bin – even if the lid won’t close, or beside the compost bin. Trees that are taller than 6′ should be cut into smaller bits.
Erie: Residents can drop off their trees for recycling in the north parking lot at Coal Creek Park (historic downtown, corner of Cheesman and Kattell) up until January 11th. Please don’t bring other yard waste… This is just for Christmas trees.
Lafayette: The Christmas tree recycling effort for Lafayette residents runs until January 31st. Bring your tree to the City Service Center on Avalon Ave. Hours: Saturday: Jan 17th & Jan 31st; 9:00am-1:00pm. Mon-Fri: Dec 29th – Jan 30th; 6:00am-2:30pm. Do not bring other yard waste, tree trimmings etc.
Note: Lafayette Boy Scout Troop #271 is holding a fundraising event and will pick up your tree and recycle it for you. .
Louisville: There is a recycling site for tree and shrub materials… The Branch Recycle Site, located just north of the Louisville Cemetery on Empire Road. This facility is open 8 AM to 4 PM the first full weekend of every month (THIS WEEKEND) and you must show proof of residency.
I have been unable to find details of any specific xmas tree recycling site, so please contact me if you have this info and I will add it here.
Longmont:
After the Christmas holiday (I didn’t find an end date), the City of Longmont provides four satellite Christmas tree drop-off locations:
- Roosevelt Park – Parking lot South of 8th Ave.
- Garden Acres Baseball Park – West side of parking lot off 18th Ave.
- Kanemoto Park – Parking lot off of S. Pratt Parkway
- Centennial Park – East parking lot off of Alpine Street
In addition, you can drop off your tree to the Waste Diversion Center at 140 Martin Street.
Superior: The Yard Waste Recycling Facility, normally closed for the winter, re-opens to accommodate your Christmas Trees from December 26 through January 31st, on the weekends. The recycling site is located next to the Waste Water Treatment Plant on Honeycreek Lane.
Boy Scout troops 579 and 278 are providing a tree recycling service as part of their fundraising. Follow this link to register. They will deliver your live trees to the recycling facility on January 10th.
Ok, so that takes care of trees. How about your holiday waste? There is also information regarding gift paper, polystyrene foam blocks, holiday cards and paper bags/boxes. Check out Eco-Cycle‘s holiday recycling guide.