Recycling Bins Open for Christmas Trees

To help ease the strain on overburdened landfills, San Fernando Valley residents are urged to drop off their Christmas trees at recycling centers sponsored by Los Angeles County and various cities.

Recycling bins sponsored by the city of Los Angeles will be available at Sunland Park and Recreation Center, 8651 Foothill Blvd., Sunland; Balboa Sports Center, 17015 Burbank Blvd., Encino, and Branford Park, 13300 Branford St., Panorama City. The bins will be available between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Dec. 31 and on Jan. 2, and Jan. 7-9.

Trees may be cut and left for curbside pickup, although doing so “costs the city and the taxpayer a lot more,” said Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation spokesman David Mays.

Residents of other cities or unincorporated areas may call the Los Angeles County recycling hot line at (800) 552-5218 for information on the nearest sites.

Trees must be stripped of their stands, decorations, tinsel and other non-organic items before they are recycled, Mays said. The city of Los Angeles uses chips from trees as ground cover and as a compost ingredient, he said.