POTTSTOWN PA – If you’ve thoroughly enjoyed the now-past Christmas holiday and are ready to get rid of your cut tree, local townships and boroughs may already have arranged for its disposal. Usually they share a common goal: recycle it.
Several local governments have their public works crews or others mechanically chop or grind the trees into small wood chips. Other municipalities have contracts with waste disposal haulers for tree pick-ups.
The chipped pieces are put to good use as inexpensive bedding for walking trails, mulch for landscaping, and for other purposes in local parks and open spaces. That reduces the need for landfill space, and potentially can save taxpayers money.
Some municipalities also have contracts with waste disposal haulers for tree pick-ups.
No matter what the pick-up or disposal method, a majority of municipalities require that trees be stripped of all tinsel, garland, ornamentations, ropes, wires, and lights.
Municipal Tree Disposal Plans
Residents of these Montgomery County municipalities can rid themselves of cut Christmas trees in the following ways, or at specific locations:
- Within the area: Hetrick Gardens Landscape & Nursery Center, 2620 Swamp Pk., Pottstown, is currently closed for the winter. However, it does accept trees from households and businesses for recycling, as well as other yard waste, by appointment only. Call 610-327-9066 and leave a message about your need; they will respond. For households, a fee of $5 per tree is charged.
- Pottstown Borough: The borough’s trash and recycling webpage specifies that “Christmas Trees are picked up Wednesdays in January. All trees should be placed near receptacles for pick-up. No trees in plastic bags will be picked up.” It also notes that failure to comply with “trash and recycling guidelines may result in fines.”
- Lower Pottsgrove Township: Contracted trash hauler J.P. Mascaro and Sons will pick-up trees for recycling on Mondays without reservation or appointment through the end of January only, according to township Secretary Nicole Varady. They should be placed at curbside, adjacent to refuse and recycling collection bins.
- West Pottsgrove Township: Its Public Works Department performs a service for residents by picking up trees and recycling them with local farmers. However, pick-ups occur only on Tuesdays. Those looking to schedule a pick-up must call the municipal offices at 610-323-7717 (choose the telephone prompt for Option 1 or 2) by Mondays at no later than 4 p.m., the township says.
- Limerick Township: A designated area in Limerick Community Park, 108 Swamp Pk., Royersford, has been set aside for residents’ tree recycling drop-offs. It’s available during park operating hours through Jan. 31 (Friday), the township leaf and yard waste webpage explains.
- Douglass (Montgomery) Township: Officials say its residents can recycle their tree Wednesdays from 1-4 p.m., or Saturdays from 9-2 p.m., at the Douglass Recycle Center, 108 Municipal Dr., Gilbertsville.
- New Hanover Township: Until Jan. 30 (Thursday), the township’s Facebook page reports residents have two locations at which they can drop off bare trees (without lights, bags, and stands). They are the New Hanover Fire Company, 2154 Swamp Pk., Gilbertsville; and the Police Department, 2373 Hoffmansville Rd., Frederick.
- Lower Salford Township: Its newsletter specifies trees “free of decorations, rope, and wires” can be deposited at “the upper parking lot of the Jacob Reiff Farmstead, on Upper Mainland Road near its intersection with Quarry Road. Its disposal deadline is Feb. 28 (2025; Friday).
Other municipalities’ programs will be added to this list as received.
Photo by Travels With The Post
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